The employment of local workers has risen sharply, according to the key preliminary findings of the Employment Situation 2012 report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 31 January 2013.
Latest labour figures revealed local employment growth rose by 59,200, significantly higher than the rise of 37,900 in 2011. Foreign employment slowed to 70,400 in 2012 compared with 84,800 in 2011.
In a statement, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How, said : "I believe that the growth outcomes for the local and foreign manpower components of the workforce in 2012 reflects the tightening of foreign manpower net inflows, and employers making adjustments to their human resource policies, offers and job designs to tap local manpower pools more intensively." He added: "We must continue to do our utmost to safeguard and add to our Singapore core, not only in better times but through thick and thin."
However, DSG Heng noted in a separate MOM report that were more job vacancies available and taking long to be filled. Earlier, MOM reported the number of job vacancies rose by 4.4 per cent to 56,400 in September 2012.
Commenting on Facebook, he urged employers to package jobs to attract those who are not working and do more to retain, treat and reward older workers fairly. He added that employers should also ensure Singaporeans continue to acquire and upgrade their skills to be valuable to the industry.
