Most Singaporeans want Budget 2017 to focus on economy: survey
Some two-thirds of Singaporeans feel that the 2017 Budget should place priority on the economy and employment opportunities, according to a new survey conducted by research firm Blackbox Research.
The next highest priority is healthcare (17 per cent), followed by social welfare (8 per cent), transport (7 per cent), education (6 per cent) and housing (4 per cent).
The survey results come ahead of Singapore’s 51st Budget, which will be announced in Parliament by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (20 Feb). Among other things, the Budget is expected to focus on short and long-term needs of the economy, measures to encourage workers to continually upgrade themselves and increased spending on infrastructure.
The poll also revealed that Singaporeans are now increasingly worried about future job prospects for older professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
The survey noted that despite satisfaction among the general public with future adult educational opportunities (70 per cent) and SkillsFuture initiatives (72 per cent), this is not translating into confidence about older professionals’ job prospects.
Furthermore, 34 per cent of Singaporeans say that the top economic priority should be job opportunities for PMETs. Currently, only some 34 per cent of Singaporeans are satisfied with job opportunities for older PMETs.
Blackbox managing director and founder David Black noted that the buzz about transformation and disruption is causing insecurity amongst white-collar professionals. He said, “[They] now realise that not only are some jobs not coming back, they are disappearing forever. Employment prospects are not only an issue in the heartland now, they’re as big a worry for those who take their lunch in Raffles Place every day.”
In terms of new measures required across policy areas, the respondents ranked the following as priorities: the economy (50 per cent), healthcare (49 per cent), social welfare (49 per cent) and education (39 per cent).
The poll was conducted between 13 January and 6 February this year, with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Singaporeans.
