SINGAPORE'S robust economic recovery and tight labour market
over the past year have brought cheer for workers on several
fronts, going by data in a just-released report on employment and
earnings.
Employment among residents which is at its highest level since
1991 - when the Government started collecting and publishing data
on the resident workforce and employment rate - was fuelled in part
by more women and older residents being attracted to join the
workforce.
Employees were also pocketing slightly higher salaries. The
median monthly income for all employed residents was $2,500 as at
June this year.
While this was a 3.3 per cent spike compared to $2,420 as at
June last year, the real change for workers - after adjusting for
inflation - was just 1 per cent.
Still, the increase pushed income levels closer towards the
Government's goal of raising Singaporeans' median income to $3,100
by 2020.
Also encouraging in the Singapore Workforce 2010 report,
released on Tuesday by the Manpower Ministry, was data which showed
a modest drop in the number of low-wage workers - those who earn
$1,200 or less a month.
Source:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_609154.html
