SINGAPORE, Sept 15 — Amid the weaker economy, employment of locals declined by 8,900 in the first half of 2015, while foreign employment continued on its downward growth trajectory and moderated to 8,000, registering the lowest half-yearly growth since 2009.

The decline in the foreign workforce did not include foreign domestic workers.

In its latest report on Labour Market Developments for the first half of 2015, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the decline in employment of the locals was largely reflected in the exit of young casual workers (below the age of 25) from the workforce, after a significant entry of such workers occurred in 2H 2014.

At the same time, there was continued growth in the employment of older local workers.

MOM said the services sector accounted for a majority of the 1H 2015 growth in foreign employment, and Work Permit Holders (WPH) accounted for the largest proportion of foreign employment growth.

In 2014, the real gross monthly income (including employer Central Providend Fund contributions) of full-time employed citizens increased by 1.4 per cent at the median and by 2.1 per cent at the 20th percentile.

Real income growth has been broad-based and sustained over the past five years, growing by 2.1 per cent per annum at the median and 1.5 per cent per annum at the 20th percentile.

For 1H 2015, MOM said, labour productivity fell 0.5 per cent year-on-year, following declines of 0.4 per cent and 1.2 per cent in the first and second half of 2014 respectively.

The manufacturing and construction sectors saw productivity decline by 2.0 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively.

Within the services sector, Finance & Insurance (3.2 per cent) and Wholesale & Retail Trade (2.5 per cent) registered the strongest productivity growth in the first half of 2015.

In contrast, Accommodation & Food Services (-3.7 per cent), Business Services (-2.8 per cent) and Transportation & Storage (-2.5 per cent) sectors saw the sharpest declines in productivity.

Real gross monthly income for full-time employed residents increased over the year by 0.7 per cent at the median and 3.6 per cent at the 20th percentile in 2014.

MOM will continue with efforts to strengthen the Singaporean Core and reduce reliance on foreign manpower.

The Ministry will follow through with the implementation of previously-announced foreign workforce tightening measures 10, which have moderated foreign workforce growth to a more sustainable pace.

The recent enhancements to the Fair Consideration Framework and Jobs Bank will also ensure that Singaporeans have fair opportunities for quality jobs in the market, it said. — Bernama