WITH unemployment rising for five quarters before stabilising in June, long-term unemployment among the jobless in Singapore has worsened, said the Ministry of Manpower on Tuesday.
The resident long-term jobless rate rose to 1.3 per cent in June from 0.5 per cent a year ago - a four-year high for June periods.
Some 25,800 or 22 per cent of resident job seekers had been looking for work for at least 25 weeks in June, up from 9,500 or 12 per cent a year ago.
At its peak, there were 30,600 long-term unemployed residents, comprising 32 per cent of the unemployed and 1.8 per cent of the labour force in June, according to the second quarter labour market report released by MOM.
The re-employment rate fell to a new low, reflecting the weak job market, said MOM. Based on CPF records, 43 per cent of the residents retrenched in the first quarter were re-employed by June.
The deterioration in re-employment prospects over the quarter was broad-based. Those retrenched from clerical, sales and service jobs experienced the largest drop in re-employment rate, after holding up in the earlier quarter.
Their re-employment rate at 51 per cent was still higher than 42 per cent for professionals, managers, executives & technicians and 43% for production and related workers.
Labour productivity declined over the year by 6.2 per cent in the second quarter, easing from the 15 per cent contraction in the previous quarter.
Over the same period, nominal earnings fell by 2.2 per cent, following Q1's decline of 3.7 per cent.
The report is available online on the Ministry of Manpower?s website at www.mom.gov.sg/mrsd/publication.
- The Straits Times
Sep 14, 2009
Job market stabilises in Q2
SINGAPORE'S job market stabilised in the second quarter, with fewer redundancies and more job openings as the economy emerges from its worst recession.
The overall unemployment rate stood at a seasonally adjusted 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from the first quarter, according to the latest labour market report released by the Ministry of Manpower on Tuesday.
Among the resident labour force, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.6 per cent in June, from 4.8 per cent in March as more people deferred job search and pursued courses.
Some 116,300 residents were jobless in June. The seasonally adjusted figure was 91,500, slightly lower than the 95,800 in the previous quarter.
After declining by 6,200 in Q1, total employment fell for the second consecutive quarter in Q2 by 7,700, said the report.
Some 5,980 workers were made redundant in Q2, of whom 5,170 were retrenched and 810 were released prematurely from their contracts.
Redundancies fell by more than half from the peak of 12,760 in the first three months.
The improvement largely reflected the sharp fall in redundancies in manufacturing from 9,250 in Q1 to 2,900 in Q2.
Services and construction also laid-off fewer workers in Q2, with 2,850 and 230 redundancies respectively, than in the previous quarter (3,170 and 330 respectively).
As manufacturing accounted for over 90 per cent of the decrease, the proportion of workers made redundant from manufacturing shrank from 72 per cent to 48 per cent, while the share coming from services rose from 25 per cent to 48 per cent, and construction from 2.6 per cent to 3.9 per cent.
Job vacancies rose by 17 per cent over the quarter to 24,500 in June, but this was still 39 per cent below the 40,100 a year ago.
After adjusting for seasonality, total job vacancies increased by 8 per cent in June from three months ago, after four quarters of decline. Coupled with stabilising unemployment, the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons increased slightly over the quarter from a seasonally adjusted 31 to 33 openings per 100 job seekers in June. This was the first increase after five straight quarters of decline, said MOM.
Summing up the second quarter job situation, MOM said: 'The deterioration in the labour market appeared to have stabilised, as significantly fewer workers were made redundant and job openings rose after four quarters of decline.'
'The unemployment rate held steady following five straight quarters of increase, as more people deferred job search and pursued courses. Meanwhile, cost pressures have eased as earnings continued to decline and productivity fell less sharply than before.'
'On the other hand , a record low proportion of workers retrenched secured re-employment and long-term unemployment has worsened, indicating that the labour market was still weak.'
- The Straits Times
The overall unemployment rate stood at a seasonally adjusted 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from the first quarter, according to the latest labour market report released by the Ministry of Manpower on Tuesday.
Among the resident labour force, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.6 per cent in June, from 4.8 per cent in March as more people deferred job search and pursued courses.
Some 116,300 residents were jobless in June. The seasonally adjusted figure was 91,500, slightly lower than the 95,800 in the previous quarter.
After declining by 6,200 in Q1, total employment fell for the second consecutive quarter in Q2 by 7,700, said the report.
Some 5,980 workers were made redundant in Q2, of whom 5,170 were retrenched and 810 were released prematurely from their contracts.
Redundancies fell by more than half from the peak of 12,760 in the first three months.
The improvement largely reflected the sharp fall in redundancies in manufacturing from 9,250 in Q1 to 2,900 in Q2.
Services and construction also laid-off fewer workers in Q2, with 2,850 and 230 redundancies respectively, than in the previous quarter (3,170 and 330 respectively).
As manufacturing accounted for over 90 per cent of the decrease, the proportion of workers made redundant from manufacturing shrank from 72 per cent to 48 per cent, while the share coming from services rose from 25 per cent to 48 per cent, and construction from 2.6 per cent to 3.9 per cent.
Job vacancies rose by 17 per cent over the quarter to 24,500 in June, but this was still 39 per cent below the 40,100 a year ago.
After adjusting for seasonality, total job vacancies increased by 8 per cent in June from three months ago, after four quarters of decline. Coupled with stabilising unemployment, the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons increased slightly over the quarter from a seasonally adjusted 31 to 33 openings per 100 job seekers in June. This was the first increase after five straight quarters of decline, said MOM.
Summing up the second quarter job situation, MOM said: 'The deterioration in the labour market appeared to have stabilised, as significantly fewer workers were made redundant and job openings rose after four quarters of decline.'
'The unemployment rate held steady following five straight quarters of increase, as more people deferred job search and pursued courses. Meanwhile, cost pressures have eased as earnings continued to decline and productivity fell less sharply than before.'
'On the other hand , a record low proportion of workers retrenched secured re-employment and long-term unemployment has worsened, indicating that the labour market was still weak.'
- The Straits Times
Sep 9, 2009
450 new jobs in med-tech
SINGAPORE'S medical-technology industry doubled its manufacturing output and employment between 2000 and 2008, according to statistics released on Wednesday by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
The sector, often overshadowed by its larger pharmaceutical sibling, had a manufacturing output of $2.9billion last year, up from $1.5 billion in 2000, when Singapore began its biomedical sciences push.
In comparison, the pharmaceutical sector produced $16.1 billion in output and employed over 4,000 last year, up from $4.8 billion and about 2,000 jobs in 2000.
Medical technology refers to devices and technologies like contact lenses, pacemakers and research instruments.
For example, 10 per cent of the world's contact lenses are made in Singapore by firms such as Ciba Vision, Essilor and Alcon.
The industry's main driver is worldwide spending on healthcare, such as on an ageing population.
Often, it is manufacturing and labour-intensive, and employs two-thirds of the workers in biomedical manufacturing. Last year, it employed over 8,200 workers, up from under 4,000 eight years ago.
This year, it is set to contribute half of the 900 new jobs in biomedical sciences.
A substantial number of these will come from new investments. At least two of these, of significant value to Singapore's medical technology sector, will be announced in October, the EDB said.
'In spite of the recession this year, there continue to be projects being announced,' said Mr Beh Kian Teik, director of its biomedical sciences cluster.
The sector is aiming for $5 billion in manufacturing output by 2015, EDB added.
= The Straits Times
The sector, often overshadowed by its larger pharmaceutical sibling, had a manufacturing output of $2.9billion last year, up from $1.5 billion in 2000, when Singapore began its biomedical sciences push.
In comparison, the pharmaceutical sector produced $16.1 billion in output and employed over 4,000 last year, up from $4.8 billion and about 2,000 jobs in 2000.
Medical technology refers to devices and technologies like contact lenses, pacemakers and research instruments.
For example, 10 per cent of the world's contact lenses are made in Singapore by firms such as Ciba Vision, Essilor and Alcon.
The industry's main driver is worldwide spending on healthcare, such as on an ageing population.
Often, it is manufacturing and labour-intensive, and employs two-thirds of the workers in biomedical manufacturing. Last year, it employed over 8,200 workers, up from under 4,000 eight years ago.
This year, it is set to contribute half of the 900 new jobs in biomedical sciences.
A substantial number of these will come from new investments. At least two of these, of significant value to Singapore's medical technology sector, will be announced in October, the EDB said.
'In spite of the recession this year, there continue to be projects being announced,' said Mr Beh Kian Teik, director of its biomedical sciences cluster.
The sector is aiming for $5 billion in manufacturing output by 2015, EDB added.
= The Straits Times
Aug 23, 2009
20,000 IR jobs
CROUPIERS and accounting managers for the coming casinos are in demand, as are the evergreen if more mundane ones like hotel and food-related jobs.
These are among the jobs underlined by the Labour Market Highlights 2009, released on Saturday by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), together with the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
The annual report aims to help job seekers make more informed career choices by providing information on jobs in demand across 16 industry groups.
It also provides industry and occupational information such as industry and jobs outlook, the wage ranges and relevant academic qualifications.
One highlight this year is the array of jobs that have been created by the two integrated resorts (IRs), which are set to open early next year.
Statistics in the report show that the two IRs - in Marina Bay and Sentosa - will provide 20,000 jobs when they are fully operational.
IR jobs listed include that of the casino accounting manager, who must ensure that financial activities within the casino adhere to the regulatory framework, and croupiers, who will operate table games and can expect a starting salary of $1,800.
Jobs in the hotel industry are also available, thanks to the opening of new hotels and expansion of existing ones.
Reservation sales executives who handle group room reservations by tour agencies, corporate customers and VIPs can expect to earn $2,300 to $2,600 a month, while salaries for rank-and-file positions from room stewards to dishwashers range from $870 to $1,720.
Some industries that have been adversely affected by the current downturn, such as food and beverage (F&B), still have positions available, such as those for chefs and restaurant managers as well as non-executive positions such as cashiers and kitchen assistants.
- The Straits Times
These are among the jobs underlined by the Labour Market Highlights 2009, released on Saturday by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), together with the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
The annual report aims to help job seekers make more informed career choices by providing information on jobs in demand across 16 industry groups.
It also provides industry and occupational information such as industry and jobs outlook, the wage ranges and relevant academic qualifications.
One highlight this year is the array of jobs that have been created by the two integrated resorts (IRs), which are set to open early next year.
Statistics in the report show that the two IRs - in Marina Bay and Sentosa - will provide 20,000 jobs when they are fully operational.
IR jobs listed include that of the casino accounting manager, who must ensure that financial activities within the casino adhere to the regulatory framework, and croupiers, who will operate table games and can expect a starting salary of $1,800.
Jobs in the hotel industry are also available, thanks to the opening of new hotels and expansion of existing ones.
Reservation sales executives who handle group room reservations by tour agencies, corporate customers and VIPs can expect to earn $2,300 to $2,600 a month, while salaries for rank-and-file positions from room stewards to dishwashers range from $870 to $1,720.
Some industries that have been adversely affected by the current downturn, such as food and beverage (F&B), still have positions available, such as those for chefs and restaurant managers as well as non-executive positions such as cashiers and kitchen assistants.
- The Straits Times
Aug 21, 2009
Sentosa IR to hire 5,000
RESORTS World at Sentosa's (RWS) recruitment drive began almost three years ago, and despite receiving thousands of applications and taking part in 100 job fairs, it has filled only 10 per cent of its workforce.
With only months to go before its opening, the integrated resort needs to have 7,000 more staff by October and a total of 10,000 by the time it fully opens early next year.
To ramp up these numbers, RWS is holding another job fair this weekend to fill about 5,000 rank and file positions such as chambermaids, tram drivers and bellhops. It is the biggest recruitment exercise held so far for such positions.
The resort began hiring immediately after it won the tender in December 2006, in what it calls a 'planned process', said assistant director of communications Robin Goh.
He explained that corporate and management positions were filled first. 'For operational staff, they will be hired closer to the opening date,' he said. This means that applicants will know only from October if they got the jobs - including those who applied much earlier.
But human resources lecturer Fred Lin, who teaches at education company Kaplan, noted that such a hiring policy may not be the best as it keeps applicants 'hanging by a thread'. 'It is usually best to tell applicants within three months whether they've got a job, with one or two calls along the way to update them on their application progress,' he said.
In contrast, Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, set to open around the same time, has been securing its staff in advance. With 290 people already on its payroll, it has sent out more than 2,000 employment contracts for gaming staff, and will soon make similar offers for other front-line positions.
When RWS was asked if its approach may cause inconvenience - such as having its shortlisted candidates being snapped up by other organisations - Mr Goh said it is prepared for such an eventuality. 'We want to sift through as many applications as possible so we can choose the very best,' he said.
Besides the job fair, other channels remain open, he added. Both integrated resorts are accepting applications through the mail, Internet, online job portals, school talks, job fairs, and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). RWS is also tapping community development councils.
Interested applicants can visit the RWS job fair on Saturday and on Sunday at the e2i building at 141 Redhill Road, Block A, #01-01. It will be open from 9am to 5pm. Applicants are advised to bring certificates, resumes and one passport-size photograph. Walk-in interviews will be conducted on the spot.
- The Straits Times
With only months to go before its opening, the integrated resort needs to have 7,000 more staff by October and a total of 10,000 by the time it fully opens early next year.
To ramp up these numbers, RWS is holding another job fair this weekend to fill about 5,000 rank and file positions such as chambermaids, tram drivers and bellhops. It is the biggest recruitment exercise held so far for such positions.
The resort began hiring immediately after it won the tender in December 2006, in what it calls a 'planned process', said assistant director of communications Robin Goh.
He explained that corporate and management positions were filled first. 'For operational staff, they will be hired closer to the opening date,' he said. This means that applicants will know only from October if they got the jobs - including those who applied much earlier.
But human resources lecturer Fred Lin, who teaches at education company Kaplan, noted that such a hiring policy may not be the best as it keeps applicants 'hanging by a thread'. 'It is usually best to tell applicants within three months whether they've got a job, with one or two calls along the way to update them on their application progress,' he said.
In contrast, Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, set to open around the same time, has been securing its staff in advance. With 290 people already on its payroll, it has sent out more than 2,000 employment contracts for gaming staff, and will soon make similar offers for other front-line positions.
When RWS was asked if its approach may cause inconvenience - such as having its shortlisted candidates being snapped up by other organisations - Mr Goh said it is prepared for such an eventuality. 'We want to sift through as many applications as possible so we can choose the very best,' he said.
Besides the job fair, other channels remain open, he added. Both integrated resorts are accepting applications through the mail, Internet, online job portals, school talks, job fairs, and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). RWS is also tapping community development councils.
Interested applicants can visit the RWS job fair on Saturday and on Sunday at the e2i building at 141 Redhill Road, Block A, #01-01. It will be open from 9am to 5pm. Applicants are advised to bring certificates, resumes and one passport-size photograph. Walk-in interviews will be conducted on the spot.
- The Straits Times
Layoffs likely to be below past peaks and jobless rate is also under control
LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say was unusually upbeat on Thursday, saying the number of people laid off and out of work in Singapore this year will be below the peaks of past downturns.
'After eight months, we are on track to reach the target,' he said on Thursday at Murata Electronics company's National Day observance ceremony.
His new confidence is a departure from his past warnings of more layoffs, although he cautioned again that it was still too early to pop the champagne. He believes there is a good chance that layoffs can be kept below the 30,000 peak Singapore suffered in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis.
His cautious optimism is based on the lower-than-expected layoffs in the first half of this year, at 15,700. The jobless rate too is unlikely to match the peak of 4.3 per cent in 2003 during the Sars crisis, he said, pointing to the latest figures.
It has remained steady at 3.3 per cent in June, despite the economy contracting 6.5 per cent in the first half of this year.
These numbers led Mr Lim, secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), to declare: 'We have done unusually well in these unusual times.' It can be credited to several factors, he said.
Foremost among them are the government subsidy schemes to minimise layoffs such as Jobs Credit and the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur). Also, several countries - including Singapore - have pulled out of the economic rut in the past month, owing to better-than-expected growth results.
However, there is a fly in the ointment: Employment figures beyond September are uncertain as companies have yet to see a rush of Christmas orders.
However, workers and unionists are 'very encouraged' by the assurance from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, that the worst is over for the Singapore economy, he said.
Mr Lim said: 'They went through a very challenging first half of the year, and now they feel the situation has improved.' But the road to recovery is long, dark and slippery. 'We will fall again and again,' he warned.
- The Straits Times
'After eight months, we are on track to reach the target,' he said on Thursday at Murata Electronics company's National Day observance ceremony.
His new confidence is a departure from his past warnings of more layoffs, although he cautioned again that it was still too early to pop the champagne. He believes there is a good chance that layoffs can be kept below the 30,000 peak Singapore suffered in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis.
His cautious optimism is based on the lower-than-expected layoffs in the first half of this year, at 15,700. The jobless rate too is unlikely to match the peak of 4.3 per cent in 2003 during the Sars crisis, he said, pointing to the latest figures.
It has remained steady at 3.3 per cent in June, despite the economy contracting 6.5 per cent in the first half of this year.
These numbers led Mr Lim, secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), to declare: 'We have done unusually well in these unusual times.' It can be credited to several factors, he said.
Foremost among them are the government subsidy schemes to minimise layoffs such as Jobs Credit and the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur). Also, several countries - including Singapore - have pulled out of the economic rut in the past month, owing to better-than-expected growth results.
However, there is a fly in the ointment: Employment figures beyond September are uncertain as companies have yet to see a rush of Christmas orders.
However, workers and unionists are 'very encouraged' by the assurance from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, that the worst is over for the Singapore economy, he said.
Mr Lim said: 'They went through a very challenging first half of the year, and now they feel the situation has improved.' But the road to recovery is long, dark and slippery. 'We will fall again and again,' he warned.
- The Straits Times
Aug 20, 2009
Who says IR jobs aren't hot?
MORE people than expected turned up for a conference session on floor positions in the integrated resorts (IRs), contrary to the perception that Singaporeans are not keen on taking up such jobs.
The session on career expectations and talent management in the gaming sector, which was part of the inaugural Gaming Asia Conference, drew 160 participants.
This exceeded the expected figure of 100 to 120, and more chairs had to be added, organiser Comexpo told my paper.
The two-day conference at the Singapore Expo, which started yesterday, brought together humanresource and business leaders in the gaming industry from the United States, Macau and Singapore.
Earlier, upcoming integrated resort Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available.
But later on Aug 1, it received more than 3,500 applications for 1,000 dealer positions at its job fair.
When asked about the possible reasons for Singaporeans shunning dealer jobs in the IRs, 61-year-old speaker Alan Soh, president of casino college Agmi International, said that a big reason is their aversion to shift work, which includes working on weekends and the graveyard shift.
He said: "They also feel the pay is a bit too low."
The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Three months' training is provided.
But some Singaporeans do aspire to gain a foothold in the gaming sector as dealers with Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World at Sentosa.
Shatec graduate Daryl Gan, 21, who has a diploma in culinary skills and has already submitted an application to be a dealer, told my paper: "The prospects, good pay and tips attract me. I intend to carve out my career in the IRs.
"I used to be a cook and so have experience in working the graveyard shift. I was also used to working up to 17 hours (at a stretch)."
Mr Gregory Huang, 29, was in bank sales and, like Mr Gan, is also a student of the pro-dealer programme at Agmi International.
"This is something new, it's exciting and I like the energy of the gaming industry. It also allows me to meet different people," he said.
- The Straits Times
The session on career expectations and talent management in the gaming sector, which was part of the inaugural Gaming Asia Conference, drew 160 participants.
This exceeded the expected figure of 100 to 120, and more chairs had to be added, organiser Comexpo told my paper.
The two-day conference at the Singapore Expo, which started yesterday, brought together humanresource and business leaders in the gaming industry from the United States, Macau and Singapore.
Earlier, upcoming integrated resort Marina Bay Sands lamented that it had managed to fill only 2,000 out of 4,500 dealer positions available.
But later on Aug 1, it received more than 3,500 applications for 1,000 dealer positions at its job fair.
When asked about the possible reasons for Singaporeans shunning dealer jobs in the IRs, 61-year-old speaker Alan Soh, president of casino college Agmi International, said that a big reason is their aversion to shift work, which includes working on weekends and the graveyard shift.
He said: "They also feel the pay is a bit too low."
The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Three months' training is provided.
But some Singaporeans do aspire to gain a foothold in the gaming sector as dealers with Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World at Sentosa.
Shatec graduate Daryl Gan, 21, who has a diploma in culinary skills and has already submitted an application to be a dealer, told my paper: "The prospects, good pay and tips attract me. I intend to carve out my career in the IRs.
"I used to be a cook and so have experience in working the graveyard shift. I was also used to working up to 17 hours (at a stretch)."
Mr Gregory Huang, 29, was in bank sales and, like Mr Gan, is also a student of the pro-dealer programme at Agmi International.
"This is something new, it's exciting and I like the energy of the gaming industry. It also allows me to meet different people," he said.
- The Straits Times
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