By S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the article “Unemployment rates in Q2 hold steady amid tight labour market: MOM” (Channel NewsAsia, Jul 31).
Only Singaporeans unemployment rate increase?
The report states that the preliminary estimates released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s Research and Statistics Department on Thursday (July 31) showed that the overall seasonally adjusted unemployment rates remained at 2.0 per cent – similar to that of the first quarter.
The figures show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for citizens stayed constant at 3.0 per cent, while resident unemployment rate improved slightly from 2.9 per cent to 2.8 per cent over the same period, according to the figures.
Only Singaporeans hardest hit by unemployment?
What do the above statistics mean?
Does the statistics show that only the unemployment rate of citizens did not improve? Does it mean that Singaporeans found it harder to get jobs relative to PRs and foreigners?
Since foreigners are all on employment pass, S-pass or work permits – there is in a sense, hardly any unemployment amongst foreigners.
95% of jobs growth went to foreigners?
The number of unemployed Singaporeans in June increased by 20,900, from 52,300 in March to 73,200 in June.
Since employment growth for the second quarter in 2014 was 22,000 – does it mean that about 95% (20,900 divided 22,000) of the increase in jobs went to non Singaporeans?
If so, what ever happened to the consistent rhetoric in recent years about “Singaporeans First” and curtailing the influx of foreigners?
What’s the point of the relentless chase for the growth in jobs when most of the jobs do not go to Singaporeans?
