We refer to the article “FT employment in SG still growing but has slowed” (TR Emeritus, Sep 15).
Local employment growth 4.2%
It states that “As a result of tightening of foreign workers entering Singapore, hiring of locals remained strong – The 4.2% year-on-year growth in local employment in June 2014 (41,000 in 1H 2014). There is a continued steady increase in labour force participation of women and older residents, noted MOM.”
As to “MOM said that the total employment growth in first half of 2014 moderated to 52,200 excluding Foreign Domestic Workers (FDW).
Total employment growth 3.8%
This is down from 61,100 in the first half of 2013, translating to a lower year-on-year growth of 3.8% in June 2014″
- What exactly do these statistics means? That year-on-year growth in local employment is higher at 4.2%, compared to total employment growth (locals plus foreigners) of 3.8%
Foreign employment, PRs growth?
But what is perhaps more important in order to give a fuller picture – is what was the employment growth for foreign workers, PRs and Singaporeans?
What about new PRs and new citizens?
Even if we have these statistics, it may still be quite meaningless, unless we also know the number of new PRs and new citizens granted in the same period (12 months to June 2014).
How many jobs to true-blue Singaporeans?
If we are still granting at the rate of about 30,000 new PRs and 25,000 new citizens in a year – how much of the locals employment change actually went to true-blue Singaporeans?
96,700 unemployed residents
With regard to the MOM’s Labour Market, Second Quarter 2014 report which says that “An estimated 81,800 residents, including 72,700 Singapore citizens, were unemployed in June 2014.
Long-term unemployment rate improved over the year. 13,900 residents making up 0.6%
of the resident labour force had been looking for work for at least 25 weeks in June 2014
This brought total employment to 3,549,900 in June 2014″
Can breakdown for the unemployed into PRs and Singaporeans, but not other statistics?
- Why is it that we can breakdown the unemployed into PRs and Singaporeans, but there is no breakdown for employment change, total employment and the long-term unemployed?
Last year – foreign workers grew 4.2%
In the 12 months from December 2012 to December 2013 – all categories of foreign workers grew – by 13% (142,400 to 160,900, 0.7% (173,800 to 175,100), 3.5% (952,100 to 985,600) and 4.2% (1,268,300 to 1,321.600) for S-Pass, Employment pass, Work permit and the Total foreign workforce, respectively.
S-pass grew a whopping 94.8%?
For the last 5 years, the growth was 94.8% (82,800 to 160,900), 53.2% (114,300 to 175,100), 15.1% (856,300 to 985,600) and 25.4% (1,053,500 to 1,321,600) for S-Pass, Employment pass, Work permit and the Total foreign workforce, respectively.
Degree holders – highest unemployment rate?
In respect of “while the unemployment rate for degree holders rose, after improving over the year in the previous two quarters. Reflecting their large composition in the resident labour force, one in three (33% or
27,200) unemployed residents in June 2014 were degree holders, surpassing other educational groups.
PMETs take the longest to get re-employed?
Those displaced from PMET positions continued to have below-average re-entry rates as they generally spent more time seeking jobs that matched their skills, qualifications and salary expectations.
Degree holders – highest long-term unemployment?
Similar to the unemployment rate, the long-term unemployment rate improved for residents
with secondary or lower qualifications and diploma & professional qualification holders, but
increased for degree holders. The latter made up four in ten (41% or 5,700) of the long-term
unemployed residents in June 2014.”
- Perhaps that’s why we have so much rhetoric nowadays that a degree is not important!
S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian
P.S. Come with your family and friends to the 4th Return Our CPF protest on 27 September 4 pm at Speakers’ Corner https://www.facebook.com/events/516436478486589/