More than 5,200 job seekers in the South West District were given assistance between April 2009 and March this year.
The South West Community Development Council (CDC) said this was a 93 per cent increase in placements over the previous financial year.
This is a key highlight of the CDC's report for the financial year 2009/2010.
The report includes updates on employment and social assistance to residents.
The CDC said many of the job applicants that seek help face various barriers, such as not being receptive to the work environment, and not selected by the prospective employers due to skills gaps.
To help the job seekers overcome these barriers, the CDC embarked on various job placement and training services initiatives, to enhance their employability skills.
In addition, there were also workshops conducted to moderate their mindsets and expectations of jobs offers.
In total, nearly 2,160 jobseekers were sent for training between April 2009 and March this year.
This was a 61 per cent increase from the previous financial year.
The CDC has also organised more job fairs and recruitment exercises.
A district dialogue will be held on Saturday to engage residents on strengthening community bonding and integration.
- Channel News Asia
Sep 24, 2010
He sent 100 applications, but can't find a job
Armed with a university degree, he sent out 100 job applications in hope of finding a better job, but is still unemployed after five months of job hunting.
Lianhe Wanbao reported that Mr Zeng Yong Guang, 41, studied part-time for six and a half years to get his degree from a private university in Singapore.
After leaving his former job as a computer technician in April this year, Mr Zeng has been actively looking for a job in the months since.
He and his wife, who live in Seng Kang, have been relying on his wife's monthly salary of $1,500 in the past five months. But after his wife got pregnant, his job hunt became even more urgent.
Mr Zeng told Wanbao that he thought looking for a job would be easier with a degree, so he started studying part-time in 2002, and graduated in 2008. So far, his plan has backfired.
"For almost half a year, I mailed and emailed more than 100 applications to IT firms, requesting for a salary of $3,000 or more, but I was not even offered an interview."
With no income for the past few months, Mr Zeng has found it hard to pay for daily expenses. Eventually, he had to pawn a watch and diamond ring - gifts from him to his wife - just to pay for their utilities.
He says that he has lowered his expectations, and now just wants a stable income to support his family.
"We have been fighting a lot about money recently. She said I have not been proactive enough in my job hunt," said Mr Zeng.
He also says that the couple, who have been married for 12 years, have always had a good relationship until he became unemployed.
Worried about their finances, his wife even wanted to go for an abortion as she was not sure they could afford to care for the baby.
But Mr Zeng says that he managed to dissuade her from doing that and hopes to find a job soon so they can start saving up for the baby.
Due to the financial pressure he is facing, he even told potential employers he only has an O level certificate in the hope of finding a job to tide them over. So far, that has also yielded no results.
"The restaurant manager asked me if I had any experience in the service industry, the KTV lounge manager asked me if I was a good drinker. When I said no, they lost interest. They are also not willing to let me start afresh."
Mr Zeng told Wanbao that he knows companies today want qualified and young applicants who are willing to work for lower salaries, and he feels that his age is a disadvantage when looking for a job.
But despite that, he stressed that he is willing to learn, and work hard, and hopes that some company out there will give him a chance to prove himself.
Lianhe Wanbao reported that Mr Zeng Yong Guang, 41, studied part-time for six and a half years to get his degree from a private university in Singapore.
After leaving his former job as a computer technician in April this year, Mr Zeng has been actively looking for a job in the months since.
He and his wife, who live in Seng Kang, have been relying on his wife's monthly salary of $1,500 in the past five months. But after his wife got pregnant, his job hunt became even more urgent.
Mr Zeng told Wanbao that he thought looking for a job would be easier with a degree, so he started studying part-time in 2002, and graduated in 2008. So far, his plan has backfired.
"For almost half a year, I mailed and emailed more than 100 applications to IT firms, requesting for a salary of $3,000 or more, but I was not even offered an interview."
With no income for the past few months, Mr Zeng has found it hard to pay for daily expenses. Eventually, he had to pawn a watch and diamond ring - gifts from him to his wife - just to pay for their utilities.
He says that he has lowered his expectations, and now just wants a stable income to support his family.
"We have been fighting a lot about money recently. She said I have not been proactive enough in my job hunt," said Mr Zeng.
He also says that the couple, who have been married for 12 years, have always had a good relationship until he became unemployed.
Worried about their finances, his wife even wanted to go for an abortion as she was not sure they could afford to care for the baby.
But Mr Zeng says that he managed to dissuade her from doing that and hopes to find a job soon so they can start saving up for the baby.
Due to the financial pressure he is facing, he even told potential employers he only has an O level certificate in the hope of finding a job to tide them over. So far, that has also yielded no results.
"The restaurant manager asked me if I had any experience in the service industry, the KTV lounge manager asked me if I was a good drinker. When I said no, they lost interest. They are also not willing to let me start afresh."
Mr Zeng told Wanbao that he knows companies today want qualified and young applicants who are willing to work for lower salaries, and he feels that his age is a disadvantage when looking for a job.
But despite that, he stressed that he is willing to learn, and work hard, and hopes that some company out there will give him a chance to prove himself.
Sep 17, 2010
1m jobs in aviation
THE aviation industry is set to be a major player in the job market in the next two decades, with more than a million vacancies to be created for pilots and aircraft maintenance crew.
About four in 10 of the positions will be based in the Asia-Pacific, said aircraft-maker Boeing, which released its 20-year manpower forecast for the industry.
At a briefing in Singapore yesterday, the chief customer officer of Boeing Training and Flight Services, Mr Roei Ganzarski, said that the big demand for cockpit and ground crew is to support a fast-growing industry.
By 2029, the global aircraft fleet is expected to nearly double from 18,890 last year to 36,300 as demand for air travel grows by an average of 5.3 per cent a year.
But while the industry has been ramping up training programmes for pilots and maintenance crew, recruitment may still be tough, said Mr Ganzarski, because of a lack of facilities.
There is also the risk that quality may be compromised as airlines, aircraft maintenance companies and other players race to meet the projected needs of 466,650 pilots, twice the number now, and 596,500 maintenance crew, which is about six times more than the number of workers today, over the next 20 years.
- The Straits Times
About four in 10 of the positions will be based in the Asia-Pacific, said aircraft-maker Boeing, which released its 20-year manpower forecast for the industry.
At a briefing in Singapore yesterday, the chief customer officer of Boeing Training and Flight Services, Mr Roei Ganzarski, said that the big demand for cockpit and ground crew is to support a fast-growing industry.
By 2029, the global aircraft fleet is expected to nearly double from 18,890 last year to 36,300 as demand for air travel grows by an average of 5.3 per cent a year.
But while the industry has been ramping up training programmes for pilots and maintenance crew, recruitment may still be tough, said Mr Ganzarski, because of a lack of facilities.
There is also the risk that quality may be compromised as airlines, aircraft maintenance companies and other players race to meet the projected needs of 466,650 pilots, twice the number now, and 596,500 maintenance crew, which is about six times more than the number of workers today, over the next 20 years.
- The Straits Times
Sep 16, 2010
Re-hiring of old a must
SINGAPORE employers will be required to offer older worker re-employment contracts of up to a year once they hit the minimum statutory or contractual retirement age from 2012.
This is provided in the proposed re-employment legislation, which is open for public feedback till Sept 29.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday released a consultation paper on the conditions and obligations for re-hiring older employees so that they can work longer.
In view of the nation's ageing population and workforce, the legislation will enable companies to tap on the skills and experience of older employees.
The re-employment legislation aims to 'strike a balance between providing older employees with the opportunity to work longer' as well as keep companies 'competitive by providing flexibility in the implementation of re-employment', said MOM in a statement.
Under the proposals, employees who satisfy the re-employment criteria of being medically fit to continue working and having satisfactory or better work performances must be offered re-employment contracts by the same employer when they reach retirement age.
Re-employment contracts must be for at least a year.
Flexibility in re-employment is another key area provided in the proposed legislation. This will help companies remain competitive. Employers and employees have the flexibility to renegotiate job scope, wages and benefits.
The proposal also makes it compulsory for employers to pay retiring workers an Employment Assistant Payment (EAP) if they are unable to let them continue working in the company.
MOM's proposed legislation was released as a follow up to the Tripartite Guidelines on Re-employment of Older Employees in March.
The key features of the proposed re-employment legislation can be viewed on the REACH website.
- The Straits Times
This is provided in the proposed re-employment legislation, which is open for public feedback till Sept 29.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday released a consultation paper on the conditions and obligations for re-hiring older employees so that they can work longer.
In view of the nation's ageing population and workforce, the legislation will enable companies to tap on the skills and experience of older employees.
The re-employment legislation aims to 'strike a balance between providing older employees with the opportunity to work longer' as well as keep companies 'competitive by providing flexibility in the implementation of re-employment', said MOM in a statement.
Under the proposals, employees who satisfy the re-employment criteria of being medically fit to continue working and having satisfactory or better work performances must be offered re-employment contracts by the same employer when they reach retirement age.
Re-employment contracts must be for at least a year.
Flexibility in re-employment is another key area provided in the proposed legislation. This will help companies remain competitive. Employers and employees have the flexibility to renegotiate job scope, wages and benefits.
The proposal also makes it compulsory for employers to pay retiring workers an Employment Assistant Payment (EAP) if they are unable to let them continue working in the company.
MOM's proposed legislation was released as a follow up to the Tripartite Guidelines on Re-employment of Older Employees in March.
The key features of the proposed re-employment legislation can be viewed on the REACH website.
- The Straits Times
2,000 jobs at new mall
ABOUT 2,000 jobs ranging from those in retail sales and services to food outlets will become available when a new mall in Serangoon Central opens in November.
A recruitment drive to find Singaporeans and permanent residents to fill these positions has begun, organised jointly by the mall, nex, and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
Job seekers who show up at the Braddell Heights Community Club, near nex, attend an introduction to the mall and briefings by participating mall tenants. They are then screened for job suitability.
Those found suitable but need training are recommended courses to attend, the cost of which is subsidised for Singaporeans and permanent residents who are not working.
Turning up for this first phase of the recruitment drive does not guarantee placement in a job. Shortlisted job seekers will still have to undergo interviews with the individual mall tenants next month, under Phase 2 of the recruitment drive.
About a fifth of nex's roughly 350 tenants, including Wendy's, BreadTalk, Isetan and Popular, are taking part in the drive.
- The Straits Times
A recruitment drive to find Singaporeans and permanent residents to fill these positions has begun, organised jointly by the mall, nex, and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
Job seekers who show up at the Braddell Heights Community Club, near nex, attend an introduction to the mall and briefings by participating mall tenants. They are then screened for job suitability.
Those found suitable but need training are recommended courses to attend, the cost of which is subsidised for Singaporeans and permanent residents who are not working.
Turning up for this first phase of the recruitment drive does not guarantee placement in a job. Shortlisted job seekers will still have to undergo interviews with the individual mall tenants next month, under Phase 2 of the recruitment drive.
About a fifth of nex's roughly 350 tenants, including Wendy's, BreadTalk, Isetan and Popular, are taking part in the drive.
- The Straits Times
Sep 14, 2010
24,900 new jobs in Q2
OVERALL employment in Singapore rose for the fourth straight quarter from April to June while redundancies remained at a pre-recessionary low level, helping to stabilise the jobless rate at 2.2 per cent.
Some 24,900 jobs were added in the second quarter, bringing the total gains in the first half year to 61,400, against a loss of 13,800 jobs a year ago.
With the growing manpower demand, job openings have outnumbered job seekers for the first time in this economic recovery, said the Ministry of Manpower in its Q2 labour market report on Wednesday.
The services sector added 25,400 workers in the second quarter, fewer than the 33,400 jobs added in the earlier quarter. Construction took in 2,000 more workers, compared to a drop of 400 in the first quarter. However, manufacturing jobs fell by 2,300, after rising by 3,100 in the first quarter.
'Unemployment has stabilised, after declining sharply at the end of 2009,' said MOM, noting that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rates were unchanged over the quarter at 2.2 per cent (overall) and 3.2 per cent for residents in June, reflecting significant improvements from the 3.2 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively from a year ago.
There were 84,400 jobless residents in June. Seasonally adjusted, the number was 65,500, comparable to 66,200 in March, but is down 27 per cent from 90,300 a year ago.
MOM added that long-term unemployment also improved significantly. The number of residents who had been looking for work for at least 25 weeks fell substantially from 25,800 or 1.3 per cent of the resident labour force in June last year to 16,500 or 0.8 this June. Their share among the pool of job seekers also improved from 22 per cent to 20 per cent over the year.
Redundancies remained at around pre-recessionary quarterly levels, with 2,280 workers made redundant in the second quarter. This is slightly lower than the 2,400 in the earlier quarter. Redundancies in manufacturing rose over the quarter from 1,120 to 1,220, while that in construction and services fell from 340 to 150 and 940 to 920 respectively.
- The Straits Times
Some 24,900 jobs were added in the second quarter, bringing the total gains in the first half year to 61,400, against a loss of 13,800 jobs a year ago.
With the growing manpower demand, job openings have outnumbered job seekers for the first time in this economic recovery, said the Ministry of Manpower in its Q2 labour market report on Wednesday.
The services sector added 25,400 workers in the second quarter, fewer than the 33,400 jobs added in the earlier quarter. Construction took in 2,000 more workers, compared to a drop of 400 in the first quarter. However, manufacturing jobs fell by 2,300, after rising by 3,100 in the first quarter.
'Unemployment has stabilised, after declining sharply at the end of 2009,' said MOM, noting that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rates were unchanged over the quarter at 2.2 per cent (overall) and 3.2 per cent for residents in June, reflecting significant improvements from the 3.2 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively from a year ago.
There were 84,400 jobless residents in June. Seasonally adjusted, the number was 65,500, comparable to 66,200 in March, but is down 27 per cent from 90,300 a year ago.
MOM added that long-term unemployment also improved significantly. The number of residents who had been looking for work for at least 25 weeks fell substantially from 25,800 or 1.3 per cent of the resident labour force in June last year to 16,500 or 0.8 this June. Their share among the pool of job seekers also improved from 22 per cent to 20 per cent over the year.
Redundancies remained at around pre-recessionary quarterly levels, with 2,280 workers made redundant in the second quarter. This is slightly lower than the 2,400 in the earlier quarter. Redundancies in manufacturing rose over the quarter from 1,120 to 1,220, while that in construction and services fell from 340 to 150 and 940 to 920 respectively.
- The Straits Times
Sep 6, 2010
1 in 4 firms want to hire
THE economy may be slowing as projected but jobseekers in the coming months can draw hope from a new employment survey of 700 Singapore companies.
It shows 25 per cent plan to hire more workers while only three per cent intend to cut their headcount in the last quarter of this year.
So overall, the net employment outlook is a seasonally adjusted 23 per cent, according to findings of a quarterly survey released on Monday by Manpower Staffing Services, the Singapore office of global human resources consultancy Manpower Inc.
This is an improvement on the 15 per cent reported for the final quarter of 2009, reflecting the improved hiring sentiments in the wake of the rebound in Singapore's economy. However, when compared to other Asia-Pacific countries, the optimism of Singapore bosses rank behind those of China (47 per cent), Taiwan (40 per cent), and India (38 per cent).
In all, Manpower polled 62,000 employers in 36 countries and territories.
For Singapore, it surveyed 699 companies in seven industry sectors. Of these, 7 out of 10 companies plan to maintain their staff strength, with two per cent saying they are unsure.
- The Straits Times
It shows 25 per cent plan to hire more workers while only three per cent intend to cut their headcount in the last quarter of this year.
So overall, the net employment outlook is a seasonally adjusted 23 per cent, according to findings of a quarterly survey released on Monday by Manpower Staffing Services, the Singapore office of global human resources consultancy Manpower Inc.
This is an improvement on the 15 per cent reported for the final quarter of 2009, reflecting the improved hiring sentiments in the wake of the rebound in Singapore's economy. However, when compared to other Asia-Pacific countries, the optimism of Singapore bosses rank behind those of China (47 per cent), Taiwan (40 per cent), and India (38 per cent).
In all, Manpower polled 62,000 employers in 36 countries and territories.
For Singapore, it surveyed 699 companies in seven industry sectors. Of these, 7 out of 10 companies plan to maintain their staff strength, with two per cent saying they are unsure.
- The Straits Times
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