EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Manpower what percentage of applicants have found a job through his Ministry's Employment Assistance Scheme since its implementation; what sort of jobs they were matched to; and if there are clearer indications now on the sectors or types of jobs for which there is a demand but no supply.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: The Employment Service Department (ESD) helps to place job-seekers with employers who posted job vacancies with the Department.

Since the beginning of this year, the ESD has been providing employment assistance to between 900 and 1,600 job-seekers per month. In recent months, the proportion of the job-seekers who were retrenched from their previous jobs has increased to about 25% to 30% each month, as compared to a monthly average of 5% in 1997.

The ESD has been able to provide job referrals to more than 80% of the job registrants. The majority of job-seekers were looking for clerical, production and general worker positions. Our experience to date shows that about 50% subsequently declined our job assistance as they were able to find employment on their own, or they rejected the job offers by the prospective employers. The reasons cited for rejection include the unsuitable nature of work, working hours, location of workplace, or salary. Based on companies' feedback, about 10% of the total job registrants were successfully placed.

MOM is in the process of identifying the sectors for which demand for skilled manpower is still strong despite the economic downturn. This study is necessary as the manpower requirements in the economy have changed considerably since the onset of the regional economic crisis. Our preliminary assessment is that there are still job opportunities in new growth sectors such as the wafer fabrication, precision engineering, medical instrumentation and process chemical industries.