SINGAPOREAN PROFESSIONALS, MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES (Unemployment)

SINGAPOREAN PROFESSIONALS, MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVES

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(Unemployment): **

30.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Manpower if he will provide a status report on (a) how many unemployed Singaporean professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) are aged above 40; (b) what sectors do these unemployed PMEs come from; and (c) what special assistance programmes have been rendered to these PMEs aged above 40.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: There were 12,800 unemployed professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) aged 40 and over in June 2004*. They constitute 14% of the total of 94,600 unemployed residents who had previous working experience. The unemployment rate of mature PMETs was 3.8% in June 2004, which is lower than the overall average of 5.5% among residents (excluding those without previous working experience).

About 8,800 (69%) of mature unemployed PMETs were previously employed in the services sector, 2,800 (22%) were from manufacturing and another 1,100 (9%) from the construction sector. Within services, these PMETs mainly came from business and real estate (2,400 or 19% of all mature unemployed PMETs), community and personal services (2,300, 18%), and wholesale and retail trade (1,700, 13%).

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WDA adopts a multi-pronged approach to enhance the employability of mature PMEs. Unemployed PMEs are offered advice and career coaching services at the Distributed CareerLink Network of job centres. In addition, there are conversion programmes to help PMEs take up a new career in other sectors. For instance, the Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme (SMCP) for healthcare prepares mid-career PMEs to make career switches to become registered nurses through an accelerated 2-year diploma programme. Some 355 PMEs have been successfully placed within various healthcare institutions since the programme started in April 2003.

WDA also works with our industry partners to provide in-employment upgrading for PMEs in various sectors. For instance, WDA had worked with employers and the Singapore Hotels Association to develop customised Executive Development Courses to upgrade the skills of executives and managers in the Hotels and F&B sectors. WDA has also worked with the Media Development Authority (MDA) to train digital media workers to create cutting-edge animation and special effects, and with The Logistic Institute - Asia Pacific (TLIAP), to develop the Supply Chain Management (SCM) Executive Upgrading Programme.

*June 2004 data is the latest for which a breakdown by industry and occupation are available. June 2005 data will only be ready upon completion of the General Household Survey 2005.

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