EMPLOYMENT FIGURES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour if he will furnish the employment figures gathered by the Ministry of Labour from 1st January, 1967, up to the latest convenient date; and whether he is satisfied with the expansion in employment opportunities created by the Government's policy of rapid industrialisation.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, the employment figures gathered by the Ministry of Labour that are now available cover only workmen, shop assistants, clerks and industrial clerks. According to these figures, the total number in employment was in: March 1967 - 208,565 September 1967 - 213,733 March 1968 - 222,044 September 1968 - 226,754. The increase in employment in September 1968 over that in March 1967 was, therefore, 18,189.

The growth in employment occurred mainly in the manufacturing sector where the number in employment increased by 10,546 between March 1967 and September 1968.

Though the figures gathered by the Ministry of Labour are not comprehensive, they nevertheless reflect the expansion in employment opportunities and therefore are a manifestation of the increasing success of Government's policy of rapid industrialisation.

It is also pertinent to point out that during the first five months of 1968, 27 pioneer firms and 23 non-pioneer firms went into production in Jurong, bringing the total number of firms in production to 240 as compared with 198 for the same period in 1967. Employment by these firms at the end of September 1968 was 22,800 as compared with 16,800 for the same period in 1967, i.e., an increase of 6,000 persons or 35.7 per cent.

Further, a recent survey indicates that Singapore needs some 35,000 technicians and other skilled workers by 1972. In addition, the growing electronic industry alone is expected to require some 20,000 operatives within the next few years.

The hon. Member will see from these figures that there is every cause for satisfaction with the results of Government's policy of industrialisation. Indeed the problem today is that, with increasing employment opportunities. particularly in the skilled categories, there is a shortage of trained operatives and other workers. When this problem is solved in time. Singapore may be faced not with the problem of unemployment but with a shortage of labour in general.