LABOUR FORCE, UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES AND AVERAGE WAGE,1975-1977

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Labour if he will state, as at 31st December, 1977, (a) what was the labour force in Singapore; (b) what was the number of unemployed persons; and (c) what was the average wage paid, giving the figures for (a) and (b) by sex; and if he will give the comparative figures as at 31st December, 1976, and 31st December, 1975.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Figures on labour force in Singapore as at 31st December, 1977, are not available as data from the December 1977 labour force survey are still being processed. I would therefore supply in the following table figures as at June 1977 as well as comparative figures as at June 1976 and June 1975: ________________________________________________________________________________ June 1975 June 1976 June 1977 Males Females Total Males Females Total Males Females Total ________________________________________________________________________________ No. of 586.5 247.0 833.5 600.3 270.1 870.4 616.3 287.6 903.9 employed persons ('000) No. of 22.7 16.8 39.5 24.2 16.3 40.5 21.6 15.3 36.9 unemployed persons ('000) Total No. 609.2 263.8 873.0 624.5 286.4 910.9 637.9 302.9 940.8 in labour force ('000) Average $378 $399 $426 gross monthly wage (employees only) ________________________________________________________________________________