~by: Leong Sze Hian~

I refer to the Labour Force 2011 report (see HERE

Less training?

“Training participation fell in 2011 ……. 27% of residents aged 15 to 64 in the labour force participated in job-related structured training during the 12-month period ending June 2011.  This was down from 29% a year ago ….. fall over the year in average (mean) training duration from 17 to 16 days per trainee ….. average training days per trainee declined from 4.9 to 4.3 training days per adult”

Cleaners: Mostly elderly?

Cleaners, Labourers & Related Workers had the oldest Median Age of 54, and this group also had the highest percentage (66.4%) of age 50 & over workers amongst all occupations.

This may be quite unique to Singapore, with most workers in this category being elderly workers.

More part-timers?

The number of part-timers continued to rise from 176,700 or 9% of employed residents in 2010 to 194,700 or 9.7% in 2011.

47% of the part-timers were willing and available to work additional hours (i.e. time-related under-employed) in 2011 ….. their number increased from 86,600 or 4.4% of all employed residents in 2010 to 91,200 or 4.6% in 2011.

Income hardly grew?

Over the decade from 2001 to 2011 the median income (including employer CPF contributions) rose by 11% or 1.1% p.a. in real terms.

At the 20th percentile level, real income growth was 2.4% or 0.2% p.a.

Real income grew 0.7% p.a.?

The Median Gross Monthly Income (including Employer CPF) grew by 29.3 and 27.2%, for Total Employed Residents and Part-time, respectively, from 2001 to 2011.

After adjusting for inflation, I estimate that the increase for the two categories was 6.9 and 4.8%, respectively.

In real annualized terms, I estimate the increase per annum was about 0.7 and 0.5%, respectively. So, the real increase per annum, over the last decade for all workers (full-time and part-time)was only about 0.7%.

This is in contrast to the narrative in the report that the real increase per annum was 1.1%, for full-time workers.

I understand that in the past, MOM reports generally cited the all workers (full-time and part-time) statistics in the narrative.  However, in the subject current report, only the full-time workers' statistics was cited.  I had to calculate the all workers and part-time statistics from the statistical tables in the report.

From 2009 onwards, part-time employment was changed to normal hours of work of less than 35 hours, against 30 hours previously.

More self-employed

The number of self-employed residents grew over the year by 5.4% in 2011, faster than the increase of 1.2% among employees.

More term contracts?

The number of resident employees on term contracts rose by 1.1% over the year to 188,400 in 2001.

Long work hours?

Around one in three (33%) employed residents usually clocked more than 48 hours of work a week

Degree holders worked longest hours?

Degree holders had the highest percentage of working more than 48 hours, at 37.1%.

Older: Higher unemployment?

The only age group which had an increase in the unemployment rate, were those age 50 & over, at 3.4%

Mass Communication & Information Science degree holders had the highest unemployment rate, at 7.1%

Who had highest unemployment rate?

Clerical, Sales & Service Workers had the highest unemployment rate of 5.7%.

As I understand that these had the highest jobs created, why is their unemployment rate the highest?

Could it be that those who lost their jobs had difficulty in finding another suitable one, due to competition from foreign workers?

Older: Unemployed longer?

The Median Duration of Unemployment was highest for those age 40 – 49 and 50 & over, at 12.0 weeks.

1.07m economically inactive

Around one in three (33.9%) or 1.07 million residents age 15 & over were neither working nor looking for a job (i.e. economically inactive) in June 2011.

Could this be a contribution factor as to why the unemployment rate is so low?

208,900 were economically inactive due to Poor Health/Disabled/Too Old and 325,400 were Schooling/Attending Courses/Training.

Older: More discouraged?

Of the 8,600 discouraged workers, nearly two in three (64%) were aged 50 & over.

Note: Discouraged workers are persons outside the labour force who were not actively looking for a job because they believed their job search would not yield results.

Some 153,600 or 14.4% of economically inactive residents in 2011 intended to look for a job within the next two years.

110,800 of these had work experience.

Singaporeans willing to downgrade jobs?

About two-thirds were prepared to take up jobs that require lower qualifications/experience than they currently have, and around four in ten were prepared to take up jobs that offer no fixed salary.

Among older persons aged 50 to 64, availability of jobs with reasonable pay (females: 26%, males: 28%) and low stress levels (24%, 22%), were also fairly significant motivators to return to work.


This is part 3 of a 3-part series on Jobs in Singapore by Leong Sze Hian. Part 1 is HERE Part 2 is HERE

Support TOC! Buy Uncle Leong’s book here!

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