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SINGAPORE – Despite the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, 33,100 people seeking work in the locality have found work and training places through different government initiatives.
They were part of 117,500 new jobs, training and outreach opportunities that SGUnited’s Skills and Jobs Package created in late August.
Human Resources Minister Josephine Teo said this on Wednesday (October 7) in her weekly employment status report, in which she offered an update on opportunities created under SGUnited’s $ 2 billion Jobs and Skills Package. announced in May to select 100,000 jobs and skills opportunities.
From the end of July to the end of August, 25,500 opportunities were created, the report showed.
They included about 17,000 jobs and about 7,900 company-hosted training opportunities and venues.
Government-funded opportunities or public sector jobs accounted for most of the growth, according to the report.
But of the nearly 60,000 long-term jobs available, the private sector offered more, 37,290.
The top five sectors remain information and communications, healthcare, professional services, finance and insurance, and manufacturing.
“It is good progress, not only progress in obtaining opportunities, but also good progress in placing people in them,” Teo told a news conference.
The 33,100 job seekers placed on opportunities at the end of August represented an increase of 9,100 from the 24,000 placed at the end of July.
“This will continue to increase as many more job applicants are matched through the selection process,” the report said.
Job placements increased by 5,580, bringing the total to 29,580.
Job placements of less than 12 months in length are down to 55 percent compared to 58 percent at the end of July.
The report primarily attributed this to the government’s previous approach of placing job seekers and affected workers in short-term public sector jobs to handle the surge in Covid-19-related operations.
By contrast, long-term job placements have risen to 45 percent, up from 42 percent at the end of July.
The report says job hunting takes longer with longer-term opportunities than short-term opportunities, and job seekers are more likely to spend time in the search process.
Employers also tend to take longer to fill those positions as they identify the job applicants who are the most suitable, according to the report.
The five sectors with the highest number of people placed in opportunities so far are: information and communications, food services, professional services, health and finance and insurance.
The foodservice sector placed the largest number of job seekers in long-term jobs, in roles such as restaurant managers, business development managers and bakers.
The healthcare sector placed the largest number of job seekers in short-term jobs, 750.
Within this sector, some job seekers have also taken on long-term jobs, such as nurses and dental assistants, according to the report.
Considerable number of unfilled vacancies
However, the report also noted that despite the National Employment Council exceeding its original goal of creating 100,000 opportunities, a significant number of unfilled vacancies remain.
The report cited comments from the field that suggested some discrepancy in expectations and abilities.
“Employers need to look beyond candidates with backgrounds that exactly match the job.
“Instead, employers are more likely to be successful if they focus on the transferable skills of candidates and turn to government financial support to close skills gaps,” he said.
He added that job seekers can also locate more quickly if they are prepared to consider less familiar roles or sectors.
For example, those who are prepared to make a mid-career change to take advantage of growth areas, or who have tried short-term contract jobs, internships or links to learn new skills, experience, and networks.
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