EMPLOYMENT TREND FOR PMETS

EMPLOYMENT TREND FOR PMETS: **

(Update): **

13.

Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) if he will provide an update on the employment trend for PMETs in the past 12 months, in view of the current economic situation; (b) what is the unemployment rate for PMETs and the average period that PMETs are unemployed; and (c) whether there has been an impact on salary levels/compensation for PMETs when they are re-employed.

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Mr Gan Kim Yong: Reflecting the improving educational profile of the population and demand for higher-skilled workers, the share of PMETs in the resident workforce rose to 51% in 2008, up from 41% a decade ago.

As at June 2008, the unemployment rate for PMETs stood at 2.5%. This is substantially lower than the total resident unemployment rate, and reflects the higher employability of PMETs. The median duration of unemployment was eight weeks.

As economic conditions worsened, there has been a broad-based increase in unemployment affecting all age and education groups. Due to the greater share of PMETs in the resident labour force, PMETs formed the largest group among residents made redundant in 2008 (49%) and also in Q1 2009 (54%). The unemployment rates for Degree and Polytechnic Diploma holders, many of whom were PMETS, were 3.0% and 4.1% respectively in March 2009, up from 1.8% and 2.3% a year ago. Nevertheless, their rates were still lower than the total resident unemployment rate. Key findings on the employment and unemployment of residents by occupation for 2009 will be released in the mid-year Labour Force survey to be published in end-November 2009.

Salary upon re-employment depends very much on the nature of the work and the value of the job. Such information requires longitudinal studies that will need much time, effort and resources, and are not conducted routinely by MOM. It is better that we focus our resources to help displaced PMETs upgrade, refresh their skills and find new opportunities.

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