Low placement rates might reflect barriers to entry

WITH a minor tweak to how figures are presented, the Manpower Ministry's 11th Jobs Situation Report on Oct 27 refocused attention on the openings that remain available to jobseekers, rather than the total opportunities created so far.

Yet that also highlights a question that has surfaced as the weekly reports continue: even as the unemployment rate edges upwards, why is it that so many places remain unfilled?

Last week's report noted 2,100 available openings in the logistics industry, referring to unfilled opportunities under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills package.