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Oral Answer by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on channelling unemployed citizens to manpower-constrained growth sectors

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Notice Paper No. 248 of 2015 For The Sitting on 17 August 2015 Question No. 757 For Oral Answer

MP: Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider stepping up initiatives to facilitate the channelling of unemployed citizens to business growth sectors that are continuing to look for manpower.

Answer

  1. Our unemployment rate remains low1 and employment rate high2. Our local workforce growth is expected to slow down going forward. My Ministry therefore welcomes the Member’s suggestion to match unemployed citizens to available jobs in the growth sectors. These efforts would also benefit Singaporeans who are entering the workforce, and those currently employed but are seeking better job opportunities and career prospects in growth sectors. 
  2. Through its career centres, WDA and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), provide a suite of career services and employment facilitation efforts to match jobseekers to employment opportunities in various sectors, in particular the growth sectors. For the longer term, the Sectoral Tripartite Committees are formulating manpower plans for their respective sectors. This will identify the jobs and careers of the future and the measures to equip Singaporeans, both employed and unemployed, with the necessary skills to take on these opportunities.

1 Resident unemployment rate for Jun 2015 was 2.8% (preliminary). Source: Labour Force Survey, MOM.

2 Resident employment rate amongst those aged 25 to 64 in 2014 was 79.7%. Source: Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, MOM.