Foreign jobs up 17,400, locals down 200?

By: Leong Sze Hian

I refer to the article “Unemployment rises in second quarter, with fewer vacancies than job seekers” (Straits Times, September 15).

It states that “Local employment fell slightly by 200 in the first half of the year, according to a separate MOM statement, but this was less than the drop of 8,900 in the first half of last year.”

So, does it mean that foreign employment change (growth) was 17,400, against a decrease of 200 for locals, in the first half of the year?