FAR fewer workers lost their jobs last year as the economy recovered, but Singapore's manufacturing sector workers remain vulnerable to layoffs, according to a Manpower Ministry report yesterday.
It showed that 9,800 workers were laid off last year, a significant drop from the 23,430 who lost their jobs in the recession year of 2009.
The rate of layoffs - at 5.7 workers for every 1,000 employees - was also the lowest since the ministry's Redundancy and Re-employment data series began in 1998.
In fact, the manufacturing sector, which was hard hit by the 2009 recession, recorded the largest drop in the number of workers laid off. This came mostly from the electronics, machinery and transport equipment sectors.
Yet, manufacturing workers are still more likely to be retrenched or have their contracts terminated early, the report said.
Last year, 12 workers were laid off for every 1,000 employed in manufacturing. This compares with 3.5 for services and 5.4 for construction.
- The Straits Times
