Singapore- Economic uncertainties pushed Singapore's overall unemployment rate up for a second consecutive quarter to a seasonally adjusted 2.3 per cent for the period between April and June, the Ministry of Manpower said on Monday.

Preliminary estimates showed the rate rose from a seasonally adjusted 1.7 per cent in the last quarter of 2007 to 2 per cent in the first quarter of 2008.

A seasonally adjusted 60,900 residents were unemployed in June, up from 54,300 in March, according to the figures.

The economy created 71,400 new jobs in the second quarter, slightly less than the 73,200 in the first, setting a record for the number of jobs added in a six-month period, the ministry said.

The 144,600 jobs created during the first half of the year compared with 113,800 in the corresponding period in 2007. (dpa)