THE PROBLEM OF JOB SELECTIVITY AND SECTORAL UNEMPLOYMENT IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The object of this academic exercise is to look into the problem of job selectivity and sectoral unemployment in Singapore. There are various occupations/sectors in Singapore where the number of job vacancies exceeds the number of people wanting to work in these occupations/sectors. The discrepancy between job openings and people who are qualified to fill these openings in a certain occupation but are unwilling to do so gives rise to occupational unemployment. Sectoral unemployment refers to the unfilled vacancies of the various occupations in a certain sector although there are people qualified to work in the various occupations in that sector. Hand-in-hand with sectoral and occupational unemployment is the problem of job selectivity which can be clearly seen if and when an unemployed person prefers to remain unemployed rather than work in an occupation that he is suitably qualified for and which has vacancies. The academic exercise starts by examining the problems created by labour shortages in selected industries/occupations. These problems relate to output, wages, foreign investments and foreign labour. The industries and occupations where sectoral /occupational unemployment exists will then be studied. Industries where job vacancies exists or where foreign workers are employed in large numbers are identified and possible reasons for these occurrences are examined. Unpopular occupations and the reasons for jobseekers job selectivity will also be considered. Then we move on to employment allocation facilities In Singapore. The various means of how a job vacancy is made known to the jobseeker and the effectiveness of these facilities will be studied. Finally possible solutions to the problem of job selectivity and sectoral/occupational unemployment will be considered.