Unemployment rate inches up in Q1 but remains low: Manpower ministry

[blindswordsman]

SINGAPORE: The unemployment rate in Singapore remains low, despite rising slightly in the first quarter of the year, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) figures show....The key findings from MOM’s “Labour Market, First Quarter 2014” report, released on Friday (June 13), were that the seasonally adjusted overall unemployment rate was 2 per cent in March this year, up from 1.8 per cent in December 2013....Similar increases were observed for residents from 2.7 per cent to 2.9 per cent and citizens from 2.8 per cent to 3 per cent. This could reflect increased job search activity as more residents, especially the less educated, were encouraged to enter the labour force, given more job openings and an increase in wages, with the tightening of foreign manpower controls, the ministry said.

The long-term unemployment rate stayed low at 0.6 per cent in March 2014. There were 12,900 residents who had been looking for work for at least 25 weeks in March 2014, down from 13,700 in March 2013...

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The report is a reflection that residents (PRs who are foreigners) are getting the jobs (2.9% unemployed) while sinkies (citizens) are not (3% unemployed). It is really dumb to encourage PRs to enter the work force. They are here to work; if they are unemployed, they are redundant to SG.

PRs unable to find work in SG should have their permits cancelled and packed off. When jobless, these PRs are not contributing to the country, whether a doctor or a sweeper. Why let them remain in SG and pay no taxes but enjoying the amenities?

 

[johnny333]

If the stats were put up by a local entity then they have probably been massaged.