More difficult to analyse labour statistics?
After analysing labour statistics for the last 15 years or so – We must say that it is becoming increasingly difficult.
Allow us to elaborate, with an example of one set of Statistics.
Sometimes have breakdown into locals and foreign workers?
When the labour market second quarter 2014 report highlighted that only 3,800 of the 27,700 jobs created in the second quarter went to foreign workers – We were curious as to what was the figure for the first quarter.
However, we could not find it in the labour market first quarter 2014 report.
We tried an earlier period, but could not find it in the labour market third quarter 2013 report too.
Why is it that there appears to be some selective reporting?
Anyway, for the whole year of 2013 – 82,900 and 48,400 jobs created went to locals and foreign workers, respectively.
Assumptions in order to derive estimates?
So, if we assume that the distribution of locals and foreign workers was the same from the third quarter 2013 to first quarter 2014 – the number of locals and foreign workers for these 3 quarters may be about 64,300 and 37,700, respectively.
From this figure, we add the second quarter figures to derive an estimated 88,200 locals and 41,500 foreign workers for the 4 quarters ending second quarter 2014.
349,000 jobs to locals?
If we add the previously computed 260,800 jobs to locals from 2007 to June 2013 – we get an estimated total of 349,000 from 2007 to June 2014.
But 774,900 jobs to foreign workers?
Similarly, the jobs to foreign workers from 2007 to June 2014 is estimated to be 774,900.
So, we created 349,000 and 774,900 jobs to locals and foreign workers respectively, from 2007 to June 2014.
How many new PRs and new citizens?
Next, if we assume that the number of new PRs and new citizens continue at 30,000 and 25,000 respectively in a year, the number of new PRs and new citizens from January to June 2014 may be about 15,000 and 12,500 respectively.
333,901 new PRs and 145,533 new citizens?
Adding these figures to the 318,901 new PRs and 133,033 new citizens from 2007 to end 2013 – we get 333,901 new PRs and 145,533 new citizens from 2007 to June 2014.
349,000 locals jobs against 479,434 new PRs and new citizens?
So, how many of the 349,000 jobs to locals went to true-blue Singaporeans, in the light that we granted an estimated 479,434 new PRs and new citizens during the same 7.5 years?
No breakdown of locals?
We also need to note that there is no breakdown of the jobs to locals into Singaporeans and PRs.
Transparency?
If we have more timely disclosure and transparency in our labour statistics – ordinary citizens do not need to derive the above estimates.
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/