Tight labour market to get even tighter

Singapore

SOME economists are predicting that the clarion call to labour-starved bosses to be more productive will sound louder this new year because there are now fewer housewives and retirees to woo back to work.

Labour force participation rates among women and older folk climbed to new highs in 2014 - 58.6 per cent for women and 68.4 per cent for men aged 55 to 64. Economists say these levels are about the limit already, which means the last sources of such workers for employers may soon be depleted.

United Overseas Bank'…