MORE firms are hiring workers on short-term contract as a way to manage their manpower cost.
The ranks of Singapore residents on contract employment has continued to rise, driven by those on short term contracts.
The number on term contracts rose 4.3 per cent to 197,200 in June, faster than the 0.8 rise in permanent employees.
Consequently, the share of resident employees on term contracts rose from 12.4 per cent in 2008 to 12.7 per cent in 2009, continuing the uptrend observed since the data were first collected in 2006, according to the Labour Force Survey conducted in mid-2009 by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department.
'The growth in 2009 was mainly driven by those on short-term contracts of less than three months, including casual and on-call workers, reflecting economic uncertainty,' said the MOM in a statement.
As a result of the weak economy, growth in income from work was largely flat this year, following strong gains in the last two years. The median monthly income among full-timers rose slightly by 0.5 per cent from $2,590 in June last year to $2,600 this year, compared to gains of 11 per cent in 2008 and 7.7 per cent in 2007.
Part-timers also posted higher median income of $620 compared with $600 a year ago. However, the median income for all employed residents dipped by 1.2 per cent from $2,450 in 2008 to $2,420 in 2009, as part-timers' share of employment rose.
- The Straits Times
Nov 29, 2009
Record high older workers
DESPITE the economic downturn, older Singapore residents aged 55 to 64 still managed to stay in the labour force at the record high level of 2008 as at June this year.
According to the Labour Force Survey carried out in mid-2009 by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department, 57.2 per cent of them were still working.
The rate for older men, in fact, rose from 73.6 per cent in 2008 to a new high of 74.7 per cent in June, offsetting the slight drop for older women from 40.5 per cent to 40.1 per cent.
The rate for older men in Singapore was also one of the highest internationally,' said the Ministry of Manpower in a statement on Monday.
'On the other hand, the employment rate among females in Singapore generally lagged those in developed countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.'
- The Straits Times
According to the Labour Force Survey carried out in mid-2009 by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department, 57.2 per cent of them were still working.
The rate for older men, in fact, rose from 73.6 per cent in 2008 to a new high of 74.7 per cent in June, offsetting the slight drop for older women from 40.5 per cent to 40.1 per cent.
The rate for older men in Singapore was also one of the highest internationally,' said the Ministry of Manpower in a statement on Monday.
'On the other hand, the employment rate among females in Singapore generally lagged those in developed countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.'
- The Straits Times
5.9% residents jobless
AMID the gloom in the labour market, there is a silver lining.
Although the number of Singapore residents who lost their jobs hit 5.9 per cent in June - on a non-seasonally adjusted basis - older workers were able to stay on in the workforce at the record high level reached in 2008.
There were 116, 300 residents who were unemployed in June, significantly higher than the 4 per cent 76,200 a year ago. The rise was felt across all occupations and industries, according to the Labour Force Survey carried out in mid-2009 by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department, which released the key findings on Monday morning.
But reflecting faster growth in the resident population, the number of resident workers went up by 3 per cent, after a rise of 2.7 per cent in June last year, and 2 per cent in 2007. As at June, there were 1.99 million residents in the labour force comprising 1.13 million (57 per cent men and 0.86 million (43 per cent) women.
The survey also found that among those in employment, the median income stabilised after rising significantly over the preceding two years.
Amid the global recession, the proportion of working residents aged 25 to 64 fell for the first time in six years to 75.8 per cent in June, from the peak of 77 a year ago. This mainly reflected the decline in employment rate for residents in the prime-working age group of 25 to 54 from 81.4 per cent to 80.1 per cent, the survey showed.
'Even though it had decreased, the employment rate for prime-working age men in Singapore remained higher than in many developed and Asian economies,' said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Despite the economic downturn, the employment rate of older residents aged 55 to 64 remained at the record high of 57.2 per cent reached in 2008, said MOM, adding: 'In fact, the rate for older men increased from 73.8 per cent in 2008 to a new high of 74.7 per cent in 2009, offsetting the slight decrease for older women from 40.5 per cent to 40.1 per cent.'
The survey also showed that as employers seek greater flexibility to manage manpower, term contract employment continued to increase, driven by those on short term contracts.
- The Straits Times
Although the number of Singapore residents who lost their jobs hit 5.9 per cent in June - on a non-seasonally adjusted basis - older workers were able to stay on in the workforce at the record high level reached in 2008.
There were 116, 300 residents who were unemployed in June, significantly higher than the 4 per cent 76,200 a year ago. The rise was felt across all occupations and industries, according to the Labour Force Survey carried out in mid-2009 by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department, which released the key findings on Monday morning.
But reflecting faster growth in the resident population, the number of resident workers went up by 3 per cent, after a rise of 2.7 per cent in June last year, and 2 per cent in 2007. As at June, there were 1.99 million residents in the labour force comprising 1.13 million (57 per cent men and 0.86 million (43 per cent) women.
The survey also found that among those in employment, the median income stabilised after rising significantly over the preceding two years.
Amid the global recession, the proportion of working residents aged 25 to 64 fell for the first time in six years to 75.8 per cent in June, from the peak of 77 a year ago. This mainly reflected the decline in employment rate for residents in the prime-working age group of 25 to 54 from 81.4 per cent to 80.1 per cent, the survey showed.
'Even though it had decreased, the employment rate for prime-working age men in Singapore remained higher than in many developed and Asian economies,' said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Despite the economic downturn, the employment rate of older residents aged 55 to 64 remained at the record high of 57.2 per cent reached in 2008, said MOM, adding: 'In fact, the rate for older men increased from 73.8 per cent in 2008 to a new high of 74.7 per cent in 2009, offsetting the slight decrease for older women from 40.5 per cent to 40.1 per cent.'
The survey also showed that as employers seek greater flexibility to manage manpower, term contract employment continued to increase, driven by those on short term contracts.
- The Straits Times
Nov 25, 2009
More jobs next year
THERE are growing signs of a pick-up in hiring but only in certain sectors, such as banking, while manufacturers adopt a wait-and-see attitude.
That is good news for job-seekers, who faced bleak times in the recession, which was recently declared over.
The general consensus among human resource consultancies and some employers is that next year holds significantly better prospects for hiring.
Aside from financial services - one of the sectors hardest hit by the downturn - other sectors with a bright outlook include IT and telecommunications, and aviation.
Human resources consultancy Hudson Singapore's director Karen Kwan cited upbeat data in the firm's latest quarterly forward-looking employer hiring expectations for the current fourth quarter.
For the second straight quarter, the report shows a substantial jump in expectations, with 43 per cent of banking and financial services companies planning to hire more staff. That is up from 32 per cent the previous quarter.
- The Straits Times
That is good news for job-seekers, who faced bleak times in the recession, which was recently declared over.
The general consensus among human resource consultancies and some employers is that next year holds significantly better prospects for hiring.
Aside from financial services - one of the sectors hardest hit by the downturn - other sectors with a bright outlook include IT and telecommunications, and aviation.
Human resources consultancy Hudson Singapore's director Karen Kwan cited upbeat data in the firm's latest quarterly forward-looking employer hiring expectations for the current fourth quarter.
For the second straight quarter, the report shows a substantial jump in expectations, with 43 per cent of banking and financial services companies planning to hire more staff. That is up from 32 per cent the previous quarter.
- The Straits Times
Nov 16, 2009
Keeping older workers a win-win
CONTINUED employment of older workers is a win-win outcome as it means productive deployment of limited manpower resources in Singapore, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Monday.
Explaining why the Government is pressing on with legislative changes to introduce re-employment of older workers by 2012, Mr Gan told a seminar on Monday morning: 'If we can help more older workers stay in the workforce, it will enable them to remain active, earn a regular income, contribute to society, and better prepare for a more comfortable retirement. This will also benefit the companies as they can continue to tap on the experience and expertise of older workers as a valuable resource.'
Mr Gan said by 2020, more than one in three Singapore residents will be 50 years older. At the same time, life expectancy continues to improve: Someone retiring at 62 today can expect to live for another 20 years or more.
Preliminary results from a Ministry of Manpower's comprehensive mid-year labour force survey shows that the employment rate for older residents aged 55 to 64 in Singapore is 57.2 per cent. This is unchanged from 2008, despite the severe recession which saw the overall employment rate for those aged 25 to 64 fall from 77 per cent in 2008 to 75.8 per cent this year.
Mr Gan said initial response and feedback from employers and unions to the tripartite advisory on the reemployment of older workers in April last year has been positive.
An MOM survey done last year showed that more than nine in 10 companies, or 94 per cent, which do not specify a retirement age allow their employees to continue working past the statutory retirement age, while nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of companies which do stipulate a retirement age offer reemployment or allow employees to continue working beyond the statutory retirement age of 62.
- The Straits Times
Explaining why the Government is pressing on with legislative changes to introduce re-employment of older workers by 2012, Mr Gan told a seminar on Monday morning: 'If we can help more older workers stay in the workforce, it will enable them to remain active, earn a regular income, contribute to society, and better prepare for a more comfortable retirement. This will also benefit the companies as they can continue to tap on the experience and expertise of older workers as a valuable resource.'
Mr Gan said by 2020, more than one in three Singapore residents will be 50 years older. At the same time, life expectancy continues to improve: Someone retiring at 62 today can expect to live for another 20 years or more.
Preliminary results from a Ministry of Manpower's comprehensive mid-year labour force survey shows that the employment rate for older residents aged 55 to 64 in Singapore is 57.2 per cent. This is unchanged from 2008, despite the severe recession which saw the overall employment rate for those aged 25 to 64 fall from 77 per cent in 2008 to 75.8 per cent this year.
Mr Gan said initial response and feedback from employers and unions to the tripartite advisory on the reemployment of older workers in April last year has been positive.
An MOM survey done last year showed that more than nine in 10 companies, or 94 per cent, which do not specify a retirement age allow their employees to continue working past the statutory retirement age, while nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of companies which do stipulate a retirement age offer reemployment or allow employees to continue working beyond the statutory retirement age of 62.
- The Straits Times
Nov 4, 2009
Job help for mental patients
JOBSEEKERS with mental illnesses have yet another avenue to get help on finding a job, and keep it.
The Institute of Mental Health's Job Club equips patients with skills, finds them matching jobs and then follows up with them and their employers after.
Since the centre's pilot in April last year, there have been almost 400 job placements. Seventeen of the 93 patients given jobs between April and September last year have managed to stay on for more than a year.
Job Club was officially launched by MP of Jurong GRC and deputy secretary-general of NTUC Halimah Yacob on Wednesday .
She commended the 59 employers registered with the centre and hopes that the number will double next year. She urged employers to give mental patients a chance at integrating back to the society.
- The Straits Times
The Institute of Mental Health's Job Club equips patients with skills, finds them matching jobs and then follows up with them and their employers after.
Since the centre's pilot in April last year, there have been almost 400 job placements. Seventeen of the 93 patients given jobs between April and September last year have managed to stay on for more than a year.
Job Club was officially launched by MP of Jurong GRC and deputy secretary-general of NTUC Halimah Yacob on Wednesday .
She commended the 59 employers registered with the centre and hopes that the number will double next year. She urged employers to give mental patients a chance at integrating back to the society.
- The Straits Times
Roche plant to create 100 jobs
ANOTHER 100 jobs will be on offer here next year at a new US$500 million (S$701 million) biologics plant set up by Swiss drug giant Roche, which officially opened on Tuesday.
The commercial-scale manufacturing plant is one of six being built which will create more than 1,000 jobs in the sector here.
With the six plants on track, Singapore is shaping up to be a fledgling biologics manufacturing hub, having bagged about US$2 billion worth of investments in this field in the last four years.
The 12.6ha plant in Tuas is part of a fast-growing, cutting- edge industry. Biologics is the science of using living cells for direct therapy in the body, or for making drugs such as vaccines and antibiotics.
Roche Singapore Technical Operations, a wholly owned unit of Roche, currently employs 330 highly skilled workers at the plant. Most of them are Singaporeans. The facility is looking to hire another 100 skilled workers such as biotechnologists, quality analysts and manufacturing engineers.
Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the companies' investment here was a strong endorsement of the foundation that has been laid, using the strengths of both the firms and Singapore.
- The Straits Times
The commercial-scale manufacturing plant is one of six being built which will create more than 1,000 jobs in the sector here.
With the six plants on track, Singapore is shaping up to be a fledgling biologics manufacturing hub, having bagged about US$2 billion worth of investments in this field in the last four years.
The 12.6ha plant in Tuas is part of a fast-growing, cutting- edge industry. Biologics is the science of using living cells for direct therapy in the body, or for making drugs such as vaccines and antibiotics.
Roche Singapore Technical Operations, a wholly owned unit of Roche, currently employs 330 highly skilled workers at the plant. Most of them are Singaporeans. The facility is looking to hire another 100 skilled workers such as biotechnologists, quality analysts and manufacturing engineers.
Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the companies' investment here was a strong endorsement of the foundation that has been laid, using the strengths of both the firms and Singapore.
- The Straits Times
Nov 2, 2009
1,000 highly skilled jobs
MORE than 1,000 highly skilled jobs will open up when the six biologics plants being implemented are fully operational here, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
These jobs will appeal to both fresh graduates and mid-career professionals from related sectors such as the chemicals, electronics and processing sectors.
'Singaporeans will have the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth sector, at the frontiers of science and technology, manufacturing cutting-edge and globally trusted medicines for patients around the world,' said Mr Tharman at the opening of Roche Singapore manufacturing plant at Tuas Medical Park on Tuesday morning, its first biologics facility in Asia.
Mr Tharman said the increased efficacy of biologics-based treatments will result in a surge in demand for manufacturing capacity in the coming years, and Singapore has built up the key capabilities and resources needed to meet the needs of companies in the industry.
In the last four years, leading companies have invested about US$2 billion to set up six commercial-scale manufacturing plants here.
'This is a strong endorsement of the foundation we have laid for cutting-edge biomedical manufacturing, leveraging on the availability of skilled manpower, bioprocessing capabilities and strong base of engineering services companies,' added the minister.
- The Straits Times
These jobs will appeal to both fresh graduates and mid-career professionals from related sectors such as the chemicals, electronics and processing sectors.
'Singaporeans will have the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth sector, at the frontiers of science and technology, manufacturing cutting-edge and globally trusted medicines for patients around the world,' said Mr Tharman at the opening of Roche Singapore manufacturing plant at Tuas Medical Park on Tuesday morning, its first biologics facility in Asia.
Mr Tharman said the increased efficacy of biologics-based treatments will result in a surge in demand for manufacturing capacity in the coming years, and Singapore has built up the key capabilities and resources needed to meet the needs of companies in the industry.
In the last four years, leading companies have invested about US$2 billion to set up six commercial-scale manufacturing plants here.
'This is a strong endorsement of the foundation we have laid for cutting-edge biomedical manufacturing, leveraging on the availability of skilled manpower, bioprocessing capabilities and strong base of engineering services companies,' added the minister.
- The Straits Times
Job ads going up
NEWSPAPER job advertisements are bouncing back from the lows seen during the worst days of the recession.
According to stockbroking firm UOB Kay Hian, job and classified ads in the The Straits Times have climbed out of recession and are showing growth for the first time in over a year. The turnaround is seen as a further indication that the Singapore economy has turned the corner.
Job ads were up 6 per cent last month with 321 pages compared with 303 in October last year, the company said in its report released on Monday.
This marked a sea change from the situation that prevailed in previous months. Ads almost halved in March and April this year from a year ago and have been running at 20 to 30 per cent below last year's levels.
It was the same story for classified advertisements, which reached 805 pages last month, and were six pages ahead of last October's levels. While the rise represents just a 1 per cent upswing, it is considered significant, given the last four months have seen classifieds down 10 per cent on a year ago.
Total advertising revenue has climbed back to last year's levels, said UOB Kay Hian analyst Nancy Wei. Some 3,830 advertising pages were taken out last month, about equal to the same month last year.
- The Straits Times.
According to stockbroking firm UOB Kay Hian, job and classified ads in the The Straits Times have climbed out of recession and are showing growth for the first time in over a year. The turnaround is seen as a further indication that the Singapore economy has turned the corner.
Job ads were up 6 per cent last month with 321 pages compared with 303 in October last year, the company said in its report released on Monday.
This marked a sea change from the situation that prevailed in previous months. Ads almost halved in March and April this year from a year ago and have been running at 20 to 30 per cent below last year's levels.
It was the same story for classified advertisements, which reached 805 pages last month, and were six pages ahead of last October's levels. While the rise represents just a 1 per cent upswing, it is considered significant, given the last four months have seen classifieds down 10 per cent on a year ago.
Total advertising revenue has climbed back to last year's levels, said UOB Kay Hian analyst Nancy Wei. Some 3,830 advertising pages were taken out last month, about equal to the same month last year.
- The Straits Times.
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