According to a Straits Times article published today, there were fewer foreigners and more locals in the workforce last year. Citing the latest figures released by the Ministry of Manpower yesterday, the article proclaimed that the number of foreigners working here fell by 32,000 before acknowledging that most of these jobs come from the construction and marine shipyard industries.
When it comes to skilled foreigners on employment passes, the article acknowledged that the drop was much less significant and amounted to 4,500 fewer skilled EP-holders in the workforce last year. The article attributed this decline to more businesses employing locals.
This news is certainly welcome, given uncertainties on the ground over the unemployment and underemployment of local PMETs. The Straits Times report appears to show that the decline in foreigners – particularly skilled foreign workers – has positively impacted local workers.
But has it? Has the number of foreign PMETs really dropped?
The detailed figures released by the Ministry show that there is more than what meets the eye:
The figures show that while the number of EP holders did decline by 4,600 last year, the number of S-Pass holders rose by 4,700. Presently, foreign PMETs need to earn a minimum of $3,600 monthly to obtain an EP or earn at least $2,200 monthly to obtain an S-Pass.
This indicates that there was, in fact, an increase in the number of foreign PMETs here last year.
Further, the figures show that while the total foreign workforce has dropped since 2016, the total foreign workforce excluding construction workers and foreign domestic workers (FDWs) has actually climbed from 787,800 to 788,500. This means that the total foreign workforce here excluding construction workers and FDWs has been the highest it has ever been since 2012.
Read also:
Judge dismisses SDP’s Pofma appeal relating to local PMET employment statistics – Singapore News
MOM corrects blogger Leong Sze Hian on unemployment, PMET stats – Singapore News
‘Hiring slowed but did not come to a standstill,’ says MOM – Singapore News