Foreigners make up 50.5% of total workforce in Singapore?

By SY Lee and Leong Sze Hian

Singaporeans' unemployment increase to 3%

In the article, Jobless rate inches up amid tight labour market ' (Straits Times, May 1). It is stated that the unemployment rate for Singapore citizens was 3 per cent last quarter, up from 2.8 per cent, while that for residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) was 2.9 per cent, up from 2.7 per cent.

According to the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Employment Situation First Quarter 2014 report, there were 3,518,700 persons in employment in March 2014.

An estimated 59,300 residents, including 52,300 Singapore citizens were unemployed in March 2014 while the seasonally adjusted figures were 62,500 for residents and 55,700 for citizens.

Only 49.5% of total workforce are Singaporeans?

So, although there is no breakdown of the employment statistics for residents into Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) - However if we divide 52,300 unemployed Singaporeans by their 3% unemployment rate - we get 1,743,333 Singaporeans in the workforce.

Divide this 1,743,333 by the total employment in Singapore of 3,518.700, and we get 49.5%.

Therefore, does this mean that about 50.5% of the workforce are not Singaporeans?

If so, then we may have reached a milestone in our labour statistics - with more than half of the workforce being non-citizens for the the first time in Singapore's history.

Whatever happened to the consistent rhetoric in recent years that the influx of foreign labour will be curtailed?

133,033 new citizens = 55% not 'Singaporeans'?

If we make an adjustment for the 133,033 new citizens granted from 2007 to 2013 - what percentage of the workforce are not originally Singaporeans - about 55% or more?

150th Press Freedom ranking?

Finally, don't you feel that there may be something wrong with the title of the subject news report - ' Jobless rate inches up amid tight labour market ' - in a tight labour market - shouldn't the unemployment rate go down instead of up?

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