Employment grew by 37,500 in Q4 2009

The resilient labour market enabled employment to rebound following job losses in the first half of 2009.

Supported by the Resilience Package and efforts to save jobs, Singapore experienced employment growth despite last year's recession.

"For the whole of 2009, total employment increased by 37,600 or 1.3%. Job gains in the second half of the year more than offset the losses in the first half. The bulk of employment gains came from the services sector which added 31,500 workers in the fourth quarter, supported by hiring for the year-end festivities and the Integrated Resorts," according to the Ministry of Manpower.

Added the statement, "For the whole of 2009, services employment rose by 55,600. Construction added 4,600 workers in the fourth quarter, bringing its total gains to 25,100 in 2009. After shedding workers for four consecutive quarters, manufacturing employment rose by 700 in the fourth quarter. As the employment gains were not sufficient to offset the earlier losses, manufacturing employment contracted by 43,700 in 2009."

The increase in local employment to 41,800 or 2.2% in 2009 was despite the contraction in GDP. The Ministry explained, "The labour market was more resilient than in previous downturns. Employment only started to fall in the first quarter of 2009, three quarters after GDP started declining in the second quarter of 2008. This was unlike previous downturns in 2001 and 1997/98 when employment lagged GDP by two quarters."

Meanwhile improving business confidence in the economy resulted to increased job vacancies by 30% from 26,100 in December 2008 to 33,800 in December 2009. Labour turnover has consequently increased with more job opportunities available.