Singapore  - Employment in Singapore grew by a record 73,200 in the first quarter of this year driven by growth in the construction and manufacturing sectors, the manpower ministry said on Monday.

Unemployment also rose from a seasonally adjusted 1.7 per cent in the last quarter of 2007 to 2 per cent in the three months ending in March, still lower than a year ago when the rate was 2.8 per cent.

The ministry attributed the higher unemployment rate to "an uncertain outlook and more cautious sentiments."

Total employment compared to 62,500 in the fourth quarter of last year and 49,400 in the first three months, the report said.

"Driven by the growth in building activities, construction added 15,500 workers, continuing the rapid increase of the earlier quarters," it noted. Manufacturing, the key driver of the export-oriented city-state, posted gains of 11,800.

The overall job vacancy rate averaged 2.5 per cent in the first quarter, unchanged from December, but higher than 2.3 per cent a year ago.

The vacancy rate for professionals, managers, executives and technicians was 2.9 per cent in the first quarter and 2.8 per cent for clerical, sales and service workers, significantly higher than for production operators, cleaners and labourers at 1.8 per cent. (dpa)