Labour market recovery slow in 2021 despite improvement in Dec: economists

ALTHOUGH Singapore's fourth-quarter labour data appears promising, economists believe the lingering uncertainty in 2021 means labour market recovery would likely be protracted.

Resident employment grew by 28,900 in the fourth quarter, moderating from the 43,200 seen in the previous quarter, according to advance estimates by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Thursday. For the full year, resident employment grew by 9,300.

Speaking to reporters over a virtual briefing, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said: "The fact that resident employment actually managed to have some modest growth is something that we are very encouraged about. It speaks to the workers' resilience, it speaks to the companies and the employers' willingness to retain a strong Singaporean core."