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Laid-off local workers find new jobs quickly

Views 3 Views    Comments 0 Comments    Share Share    Posted by Unnikrishnan 26-04-2009  
Laid-off local workers find new jobs quickly

By Zakir Hussain and Lim Wei Chean

SEVEN in 10 locals who were retrenched in the third quarter of last year found new jobs by December, despite the downturn.

It was an improvement compared to the three-month period before that, when just over six in 10 Singaporeans and permanent residents who were retrenched found work over a comparable period of time.

The Manpower Ministry (MOM), which disclosed these figures yesterday, said the improvement could reflect `more realistic expectations` that workers had towards jobs.

Mr Lim Swee Say, whose labour movement has been helping retrenched workers get new jobs, described the 70 per cent rate as `very encouraging`.

For one group of workers however, the `encouraging` rise was not to be found.

According to MOM figures, degree holders saw their re-employment rate fall from 68 per cent to 62 per cent in the same period. Graduates 50 years and older had it the worst.

Their re-employment rate fell from 62 per cent to 41 per cent.

By comparison, the rate for retrenched locals with below secondary education rose from 53 per cent to 71 per cent.

MOM noted that `mature residents with tertiary education were the most vulnerable groups` in this recession, unlike in previous downturns when the less educated were the most vulnerable.

Economists have said that this is because the financial sector, which employs many degree holders, has been downsizing since the crisis hit last year.

Struggling companies have also been laying off administrative workers who are seen as less essential to survival.

Commenting on the report, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday that there are still jobs available.

He noted that 45,000 jobs are available this year and the next, including about 18,000 in the public sector.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting Resorts World Sentosa, one of two integrated resorts opening next year.

Mr Ong Ye Kung, assistant secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, attributed the high re-employment rate to the national Continuing Education and Training infrastructure in place to help workers switch careers.

`Credit must go to workers because many have shown flexibility and are prepared to adapt and learn for a new job,` he added.

One worker who has made the switch is engineering graduate Yap Chee Wee, 29, who lost his job at a semi-conductor company in December.

He signed up for a diploma in tourism while job hunting, and was hired as a park services supervisor for Universal Studios at Resorts World here last month.

Mr Gan said he was cheered that people like Mr Yap had succeeded in switching from industries facing challenges in this downturn.

He encouraged laid-off workers to approach career consultants at Community Development Councils and job centres to help identify suitable jobs for them.

`We will help them,` he pledged.

Source:
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Office/Story/A1Story20090427-137653.ht
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