Foreign manpower growth slowed in 2012

Local employment rose faster in 2012, as foreign employment growth slowed amid tighter foreign manpower controls.

With high employment creation, unemployment remained low, despite a rise in layoffs.

Vacancies eased in December 2012, although there were still more job openings than job seekers available.

These are the key findings from the "Labour Market 2012" report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) today.

MOM said total employment grew by 129,100 in 2012 mainly reflecting the higher employment increase in construction.

Local employment rose by 58,700, substantially higher than the gains of 37,900 in 2011.

Amid the tightening in foreign manpower controls, the growth in foreign employment eased to 70,400 in 2012 from 84,800  a year earlier.

In December 2012, locals accounted for some 66 percent of persons employed in Singapore, excluding foreign domestic workers.

The annual average unemployment rate remained at a low 2 percent overall and 3 percent for citizens in 2012, unchanged from 2011.

The resident unemployment rate dipped to 2.8 percent from 2.9 percent.