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    Singaporeans worried about job prospects

    Despite residing in a first world country, many Singaporeans are worried about the declining economy, especially with regard to their job prospects.

    Employers in Singapore seem to be taking it slow when it comes to hiring new workers, as shown by recent trends in career fairs at local universities.

    In addition, a recent global survey by research firm Nielsen revealed that consumer confidence in Singapore is at a two year low with a score of 94.

    According to the survey, scores below a baseline of 100 indicate pessimism. Singapore is ranked in tenth place out of fourteen in the Asia Pacific region, ahead of only New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

    However, Singaporeans like Jacqueline Ang, a business administration student at the National University of Singapore (NUS), are more worried about their job prospects.

    Said the 22-year-old, “I’m worried about the job market, not so much about the economy in the GDP-sense, because I trust that the government will make sure our economy keeps going, (I’m) more worried about the job opportunities in the banking and finance industry, with the euro zone crisis and all.”

    Muhammad Zaki, a development officer, echoed her view. Said the 25-year-old, “I don’t think the economy is the main worry. It’s the job opportunities.”

    He added that the decline in job prospects is exacerbated by the influx of immigrants, who compete with Singaporeans for jobs.

    On the other hand, year three Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student Chia Wee Keat remains optimistic. Said the 24-year-old, “I think that even though the economy may be bad, we can still find opportunities in the market.”

    To him, the current economic situation is ideal for investment.

    “People are using bad times as an excuse not to find jobs, save money and invest,” he added.

    Similarly, NUS student Lee Gin Min remains hopeful about the future.

    “I haven’t started looking for a job yet, I’m not sure how bad the market is. As a student I don’t really fell how bad or good the economy is,” said the 24-year-old.

    According to the Nielsen survey, which polled more than 28,000 consumers in 56 countries in the last two months of last year, 55 per cent of Singaporeans are concerned about their future job prospects. 

    Also, 26 per cent rated the economy as their top worry, while 23 per cent cited job security as their main concern.

    Job fars at NTU and NUS showed Singaporeans may have reason to worry over jobs.

    The jobs available at NTU’s annual career fair on Tuesday plunged to 3,000 from 4,500 the year before.

    This was despite that a record 221 employers participated in this year’s fair.

    The same trend was observed in NUS career fair this year, as the average number of jobs offered per employer declined from 29.17 in 2011 to 28.97 in 2012.

    Said Mr Loh Pui Wah, director of NTU Career and Attachment Office, “In view of the economic uncertainty in 2012, employers may be more cautious and therefore conservative in their hiring numbers compared to 2011.”

    Chief Operating Officer of JobsCentral, Michelle Lim, agreed that more employers are “exercising caution” when it comes to hiring due to an unstable economy.

    “So while hiring of fresh graduates is still an important part of talent pipeline planning, they may hire less than before,” she said.

    How do you feel about this article?

     
    • Jkhh  •  3 months ago
      It looks like they employ more FTs not to increase employment for singaporeans. They recruit more FTs to recruit more FTs. Ft managers r employing more FTs in many companies. Even govt departments and govt owned companies r employing more FTs.
      • Ezekiel 3 months ago
        I absolutely agreed. I used to work for a 5* hotel on Scotts Road. When my colleague, an Indian national was promoted to department head position, he brought in many of his countrymen and filipinos. Department was 3/4 staffed by foreigners. But the problem also lies with the HR practices (headed by a S'porean) cos they allowed such a practice of taking in FTs over Singaporeans. I recommended a well qualified S'porean but HR refused to pay $1.8K this person was asking but only offered her $1.6. So she turned down the offer. HR then hired an FT at $1.8k because our labour law back then states that FTs under S pass must be paid $1.8k ( now its $2k for S PASS). We S'poreans are being discriminated by our own law. Now THE GOD just told us that we have to accept FTs - They are here to stay ! I am moving up north when I retire. SG can go to hell, including THE GOD !
      • Thomas 3 months ago
        dont migrate, we need u to do national service ie to vote more opposition into parliament for the national interest.
      • marites 3 months ago
        The job market is not really that bleak. There are many job opportunity out there, but unfortunately they are not for the local, they are meant for the foreigners. The foreigners are laughing at us behind our backs about the opportunity they had, not in their country but in Singapore.
    • Assassin  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Well..I'm jobless for 6months already..55YRS OLD CANNOT TAKE OUT MONIES FROM THE CPF TOO..CAN I STILL TRUST THE GOVT?!
      • marko 3 months ago
        good then become a assassin kill people for money...that a job..a hitman! apply tru internet..
      • sot_plug 3 months ago
        @assassin,u can look for hawker asst job,there r many around if u read chinese news paper
      • Kimgold 3 months ago
        Assassin- Sorry lah, your CPF gone into the hands. Know what to do right. VOTE OUT PAP 2016.
    • Timothy  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Remember, PAP former MPs and Ministers do not have to worry.
      They have amass a huge fortune each.
      They enjoy good living with good pensions.
      They sit as Directors and advisers to many Companies.
      Only ordinary man-in-the-streets worry for their jobs.
      The Government sucks your blood in every possible ways
      Remember PAP is here to enrich themselves with high salaries, Executive Directors and advisers to multi national companies.
      • Kimgold 3 months ago
        Timothy - You really slap their faces very, very hard. Good continue your slappings until they bengsan.
      • Super-Gila 3 months ago
        Well illustrated Timothy for our folk to acknowledge
      • PH 3 months ago
        Timothy .. you forgot 1 other reminder ... Remember to vote for opposition in 2016
    • Ren C  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      With PAP around. . . Singaporeans worry about job prospects EVERYDAY.
      • Kimgold 3 months ago
        RenC- Agreed 100% with you.
      • Pick A Pig 我也爱钱 3 months ago
        well said
      • Choon Soo 3 months ago
        Jobs were hard to come by this day is the fault of the PAP govt. the parents of
        S'pore who has sacrificed their saving by sending children overseas for
        better and greater education come home have to compete FT and unable
        to get employment despite getting good results in oversea uni. In this
        circumstance where is the promises, of securing a good life. Are they
        fated to be bled and blighted. PAP govt always professing fairness to
        all and believe in meritocracy,but these are empty talks. They are in fact
        in favoritism to their associates.
    • Tommyz  •  3 months ago
      Singaporeans this is country, don't give up on it, but give up on PAP, it is the root cause of our problems, make a guess why they are afraid to lose power ?
      • E 3 months ago
        i already given up on them more than 20yrs ago
      • Kimgold 3 months ago
        I given up PAP 38 years ago. No thanks to PAP
      • john 3 months ago
        They are afraid to lose their fortune, power, fame, previleges and their lives.
    • Wealthy Assets  •  3 months ago
      The jobs available at NTU’s annual career fair on Tuesday plunged to 3,000 from 4,500 the year before

      THE PAP make HDB flats beyond reach for the young people hence they demand higher salary such as S$3500 per month and CPF ..... but where can the private employer find the money to pay for their workers salary and their HDB flats .... unless they are monopoly or cartels like the bank, telcos and transport company.... Everything in singapore can kill both parties which is the employers and employees.

      Only the PAP benefit from both world by imposing High cost and High Price for everything.
    • Chan  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      The previous generation of Singaporean does not have this problem, and why is that so now?
      Our gahment let too many foreigner into SG and drive up the price of everything, the moment we are jobless , we'll have alot more to worry about like housing loan , eletricity bill and kid's education.

      The people who are in constant worries will lead to depression and more things to come. So is our gahment good? I think they are very good and efficient in making the people work hard , so hard until everyone worried , so hard until everyone is tired, so hard until everyone is questioning what is life is all about.
    • Timothy  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      SHAME the PAP!
      SHAME them in every street, Shame them in every lane, Shame them in every building.
      SHAME the PAP publicly that they have caused pains and agony to Singaporeans in fear
      of losing their jobs.
      SHAME the PAP that they have eroded our TRUST and Confidence in them!
    • TIM  •  3 months ago
      got jobs..just not what they expect....especially careers in BA and other soft skill jobs like sales, manager post (anyway what is more effective, a FT manager looking after foreign labor or a local manager looking after foreign labor when he/she cannot even communicate to them properly...thats y got more and more FT managers and even up to HR level. It all starts from below). Being soft skills, FT can pick it up very easily.

      A fresh sales person can outperform even a good 10 year experience sales person but there is no way a fresh engineer can be better than a good 10 year experience engineer.

      Thats why you can see MPs, Managers, Sales etc can be replaced easily and often to no negative impact, their jobs can be easily picked up by others...Head Engineers are often always long term (usually replaced when someone is sufficiently trained to take over..often many years later)
    • GoodOnYou  •  3 months ago
      Of course Singaporeans are worried. They have reasons to be. Singaporeans are being undercut by foreigners...unabatedly walking in and taking over our jobs.
    • Heartlander  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      PAP - send all FTs home, we dont need them, jobs for locals only please! If you cannot do this, watch out in 2016..... and yes, this is a threat!
    • Kimgold  •  3 months ago
      Citizens of Singapore, the theme for 2016 GE - Singaporeans OR Immigrants. Make your choice. Use your Citizen Power to defend our Rice Bowels and our Jobs. Singapore is already over crowded we dun need the immigrants here. Sorry also No Use. United we vote out the PAP. Stand Up for Singapore Fight the PAP to Stop the Immigrants into our Country. Vote out PAP, VOTE out PAP 2016.
    • Kimgold  •  3 months ago
      Worried about JOB PROSPECTS. Very easy your problems can be solved by voting out PAP in 2016 to show them the PEOPLES POWER. VOTE OUT PAP, VOTE OUT PAP
      to SAVE your JOBS. THANK YOU.
    • Watson  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      LKY says if singaporean is not producing enuf need to import more FT.....so who is culprit.............
    • Kumar  •  3 months ago
      one thing people should remember is singapore is dependeant always on everything. and we have no natural resources, limited land.. its best to get educated and settle in another bigger country
    • Oasis  •  3 months ago
      Pessimism?
      Crisis every year, how not to be?
      Always prepare for the worst, even in good times.
      Jobs are plenty, foreigners are attracted here for them.
      Expectations have to be realistic, as employers have plenty of choices to choose from local or oversea. They are the 'Pay Masters', workers are just the takers - not able to afford being choosy in their words esp. local bosses.
      The Hard Truth of workers' lives in Sg.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Worry, Worry...???
      How many PMET Positions we Have?
      How many PMET vacancies for New Citizens?
      How many PMET vacancies for PRs?
      How many PMET vacancies for SPs & EPs?
      How many PMET vacancies for Locals?
      How many Non PMET Positions we have?
      How many Non PMET vacancies for WPs?
      How many Non PMET vacancies for Locals?
      When you find out all the above answers, you will know why Singaporeans worried about job prospects..
    • lau e  •  Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  •  3 months ago
      Singapore Government should minimize the use of Foreign Workers and the local singaporean sould be more adaptive to the current economy crisis in order to secure their own job position. If rely too much on foreigner , then it will happened just like the neigbour country Malaysia , their curency exchange will start to dilute and smaller and eventually will slow down the country economy as we need to pay for more for the same commodities as compare to before . Foreign workers only make use of singapore to earn money and go back their country, is a type of catalyst !!
    • fuji  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      @MAX....;

      YOU ARE CHEAP SKATE
    • Jeffrey Peter  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Luker, a simple thing as a government; IF the government wants to level the playing field in singapore; 1. about 10 years ago, degrees ONLY from accredited international schools are recognized. Now just about tom, dick and harry with some paper can qualify as someone here, no wonder for the lost in quality. 2. the FTs to pay levy and/or equavalent to singaporeans pay at the level of employment inclusive the CPF contribution, let's see if the singapore government is just LIPS SERVICE with little by way of producing results. "SINGAPREAN FIRST" does not include us singaporeans just the elites.

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