Singapore records fall in foreign worker numbers for first time in 2 years

A decline in non-resident employment in construction was also seen in areas such as manufacturing, as well as information and communications

But applications from foreigners for higher-skilled employment passes picked up in line with improved business expectations, a report said on Tuesday

Reading Time:1 minute

A general view of the central business district of Singapore. Overall employment in the city state grew by 4,900 in the first quarter, notching the 10th straight month of expansion. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:38pm, 30 Apr 2024

The number of foreign workers in Singapore has fallen for the first time in more than two years, largely driven by a slump in construction jobs as builders complied with rules requiring reduced dependency on non-residents.

A decline in non-resident employment was also seen in areas such as manufacturing, as well as information and communications, according to the Ministry of Manpower’s labour market advance release for the first quarter of 2024.

In the meantime, applications from foreigners for higher-skilled employment passes have picked up in line with improved business expectations, the report said on Tuesday.

The contraction in non-resident employment notwithstanding, overall employment in the city state grew by 4,900 in the first quarter – notching the 10th straight month of expansion – although gains slowed from 7,500 in the previous quarter.

Redundancies, or retrenchments as they are known in the city state, fell to 3,000 from 3,460 in the previous three-month period.

A worker secures a metal frame at a construction site in Singapore. The dip was largely driven by a slump in construction jobs. Photo: AFP

Singapore, which sees its economy expanding 1 per cent to 3 per cent this year, expects labour demand to strengthen correspondingly, with the ministry citing surveys showing more companies have intentions to hire in the next three months.

Singapore records fall in foreign worker numbers for first time in 2 years

A decline in non-resident employment in construction was also seen in areas such as manufacturing, as well as information and communications But applications from foreigners for higher-skilled employment passes picked up in line with improved business expectations, a report said on Tuesday

A decline in non-resident employment in construction was also seen in areas such as manufacturing, as well as information and communications

But applications from foreigners for higher-skilled employment passes picked up in line with improved business expectations, a report said on Tuesday