By: Leong Sze Hian
New online jobs marketplace to help jobseekers
I refer to the article “Parliament: New online jobs marketplace to help jobseekers through slowdown” (Straits Times, Oct 10).
Only 500 locals jobs increase past 18 months
It states that “He acknowledged that many were concerned that local employment growth has been flat, with a net increase of just 500 over the past 18 months.
73,000 nets jobs increase a year?
He noted that between 2012 to 2014, an average of 226,000 locals joined employment each year while 153,000 left, giving an average net increase of 73,000.”
89,674 new PRs, 61,613 new citizens from 2012 – 2014?
Between 2012 and 2014 – 89,674 new PRs and 61,613 new citizens were granted.
How many local jobs to Singaporeans?
So, how many of the “average net increase of 73,000 each year” went to Singaporeans?
Breakdown into Singaporeans & PRs?
What we need to know is the breakdown of the jobs into Singaporeans and PRs.
Flat growth in local employment?
As to “But last year, the number of locals entering jobs dropped significantly by about 36,000, while those leaving went up by about 37,000. This resulted in the flat growth in local employment.
Mr Lim said this was partly due to more people being laid off, and also leaving to pursue further studies and upgrading.
29,955 new PRs, 20,815 new citizens last year?
He noted, however, that the change was also because more of the baby boomer generation are reaching retirement – a figure that has doubled over the past two years – while fewer workers aged 15 to 24 were entering the workforce because of lower population growth” – 29,955 new PRs and 20,815 new citizens were granted last year.
How many of the 500 locals jobs to Singaporeans?
So, how many of the “net increase of just 500 (local jobs) over the past 18 months” went to Singaporeans?
How many new PRs, new citizens last 6 months?
Also, how many more new PRs and new citizens were granted in the last six months, since the 500 locals jobs were for the last 18 months?
A better way to help Singaporean jobseekers?
Perhaps a better way to help Singaporean jobseekers in the economic downturn, is to reduce the number of employment pass, S-pass and work permits granted, and the number of new PRs and new citizens granted.
New & existing foreigners compete with Singaporeans for jobs?
Another issue may be that if say 20,000 new PRs enter the workforce during a year – and say 20,000 existing PRs leave – the number competing with Singaporeans for jobs during the year may be some combination of the two.