Singapore Workforce 2010 Report | Singapore Jobs
The Singapore jobs/employment rate and monthly income for Singaporeans has made good progress over the last year, with increases in the number of women in the workforce as well as a drop in the unemployment numbers.
Ministry of Manpower report on Singapore jobs
As of June this year, the number of working Singaporeans stands at 2.05 million. The employment rate has improved from 4.5% to 3.2% when compared to the same period in 2009. This includes those from all education backgrounds and age groups, according to the Singapore Workforce 2010 report, released by the Ministry of Manpower.
Wages in Singapore have been increasing consistently since 2006, when the average monthly income was $2,170. This is an increase of almost 25% over the four years.
Lynne Ng, regional director at Adecco SEA, said the increase in the rate of inflation late this year has helped workers see “additional real income growth”.
The average monthly income has rose 4.2% to $2,700, even after inflation.
Ng added, “The industries that have seen the best job growth this year include pharmaceuticals, shipping, IT and engineering.”
The percentage of workers above the age of 15 has grown from 66.2% in 2009 to 65.4% this year. The number of women aged 25 to 54 in the workforce have also set a record high at 71.7%, up from 69.4% in 2009.
The increase in working women show they are being given more recognition in the workforce, said Karin Clarke, regional director of Randstad.
However, 92.4% of men in the same age group still make up the majority of the workforce.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Halimah Yacob, deputy secretary-general of NTUC, said since 2007, about 3,300 unemployed women have been matched to jobs in the retail and food-and-beverage sectors through NTUC’s Women’s Development Secretariat.
The number of mature workers aged 55 to 64 has also increased, from 57.2% in last year to 59% in 2010. Clarke said this could suggest employers are “serious in employing older workers” and they “recognise the value they bring to the organisation”.
Ng added this was important when thinking about Singapore jobs, especially since Singapore is facing an ageing population.
Sources and references: HRO, MOM, ST
