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SINGAPORE – While Singapore residents are the least concerned about contracting Covid-19 compared to people in five other Southeast Asian countries, they are also the most pessimistic about an economic recovery, according to a research survey.
Findings released on Friday (October 23) showed that more than half of 500 Singaporeans indicated they are less confident in their job security compared to three months earlier, the highest seen compared to respondents from Indonesia, Malaysia. , Philippines, Thailand. and Vietnam.
Only 27 percent of Singaporeans expect the economy to improve in the next six months, market research firm Ipsos said.
Ipsos conducted the online survey from September 18-22, asking respondents questions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They included how residents of the six Southeast Asian countries have adapted to Covid-19 restrictions, as well as the income and spending patterns of their households.
Five hundred people aged 18 and over, who Ipsos said were nationally representative in terms of age, gender and ethnicity, were surveyed from each of the countries.
When contracting the coronavirus, 73 percent of Singaporean respondents said they are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about contracting it.
The countries most concerned were the Philippines (95 percent) and Vietnam and Malaysia (both 93 percent).
But 56 percent of Singaporean respondents said they have “less confidence” in job security for themselves, their families or others they know personally, compared to three months earlier.
This is the highest among the countries surveyed, averaging 49 percent.
When it comes to economic recovery in the next six months, Indonesian residents are the most optimistic, with 75 percent saying the economy will be “somewhat stronger” or “much stronger.”
The figure was 51 percent for Vietnam and 50 percent for the Philippines, and only 27 percent for Singapore.
When asked what the government’s priority should be in the next six months, 32 percent of Singaporeans said “protecting jobs.”
This is more than in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia (20 percent) or Indonesia (13 percent).
The other three options presented to respondents for this question were: “control the prices of goods”, “provide cash assistance to households” and “keep everyone safe from Covid-19”.
Mr. Prasad Shinde, a senior Ipsos customer official in Singapore, said Singaporeans are reassured by the measures taken by the government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.
“However, they are more concerned about their job security and feel that the government could do more in this area,” he added in the statement.
Separately, Shinde noted that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of cashless payments in Singapore and the region.
Overall, 43% more respondents buy more items online, 42% more people use cashless payments, and 29% more people stream more content online.
He said: “Such habits are likely to persist beyond the pandemic. Most brands and marketers are in the planning stage for their business in 2021 and it is important to take note of these changed habits in their plans for 2021.” .
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