No bad vibes for foreigners: poll

Unemployed respondents feel dejected towards foreigners with jobs.

Majority of Singaporeans are either neutral or positive about foreigners in Singapore, according to the latest poll by REACH, the national feedback and engagement unit under the Ministry of Communications and Information.

A total of 49% of the 3,150 respondents were neutral about foreigners in the city, whilst negative sentiments were low with14% of respondents expressing very negative or negative sentiments. Positive sentiments were double of that – 35% were either very positive or positive about foreigners in the Lion City.

Respondents who were unemployed were more likely to feel negative towards foreigners, REACH's survey noted. Job-related concerns about foreigners were also more pronounced amongst the unemployed.

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Job-related issues were also cited as the top concern that bother Singaporeans regarding foreigners, at 23%. Meanwhile, 47% of respondents did not name any concerns, whilst 16% expressed concern about the social habits of foreigners.

Singaporeans generally agreed with the importance of remaining open to foreigners. Majority of the respondents strongly agreed or agreed that it is important that Singapore remains open to foreigners. Twenty-five percent were neutral on this question, with unemployed respondents more likely to be neutral in this issue.

Meanwhile, only 10% strongly disagreed or disagreed with the statement.

Overall, Singaporeans recognised the benefits of the Lion City being a regional hub in job creation, according to REACH. More than eight in ten respondents or 81%  agreed that it is good that Singapore is a regional hub as it provides good job opportunities for locals, even if some jobs will go to foreigners.

The remaining 19% felt that it is better for Singapore not to be a regional hub, so as to reduce the number of foreigners, even if it meant fewer job opportunities for Singaporeans, as indicated by unemployed respondents.

REACH conducted the survey via telephone poll across 2,100 randomly selected residents aged 15 years and above, from 11 to 21 August. It also gathered data from 1,050 randomly selected citizens aged 15 and above from 21 to 24 August via an online poll.