EMPLOYMENT

Singapore - Total employment in Singapore grew by 37,500 in the last quarter of 2009, with the job market experiencing a recovery in the second half of the year.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) report released yesterday, total employment increased by 37,600 and the job gains in the second half of the year more than offset job losses in the first half.

The integrated resorts and year-end festivities accounted for most of the 31,500 jobs created in Q4. "For the whole of 2009, services employment rose by 55,600. Construction added 4,600 workers in the fourth quarter, bringing its total gains to 25,100 in 2009."

While jobs in the manufacturing sector grew by 700, this was not enough to offset the earlier job losses. In all, the sector contracted by 43,700 in 2009.

According to Mark Sparrow, managing director of Kelly Services Singapore, these indicators are in tandem with the economic recovery that is taking place in the region and the world.

"Government initiatives announced in last year’s Budget proposal, including the Jobs Credit Scheme, SPUR and additional CET programmes at subsidized rates have helped both businesses and working individuals avert potential job cuts, and ensuring that Singaporeans would be able to ride out the market downturn," Sparrow added.

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