Singapore’s baby shortage

I refer to the article “Tackling Singapore’s baby shortage” (Sunday Times, Feb 14).

It states that “33,793 Singaporean babies were born during last year’s Golden Jubilee, the highest number in 13 years”.

About 40,000 citizen births a year about 20 years ago?

The number of citizen births used to be much higher – at 39,214, 38,727 and 41,617 in 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively.

30,000 citizen new job entrants a year?

Looking at the above numbers – I estimate that the number of citizen new entrants to the workforce now to be about 30,000 a year.

Only 100 local jobs growth for 30,000 new job entrants?

So, if there were 30,000 citizen new entrants to the workforce last year – and employment growth was only 100 local jobs (only 0.03 per cent of total employment growth) – many of the new job entrants may be struggling to find a suitable job.

270,000 citizen new job entrants 2007 – 2015?

If we look at 2007 to 2015 – there may have been a total citizen new entrants to the workforce of about 270,000 (30,000 x 9 years) – and we are not even counting permanent resident (PRs) new entrants to the workforce.

550,000 new citizens/PRs?

During the same period – we granted an estimated 550,000 new citizens and PRs.

How many local jobs to S’poreans?

So, how many of the jobs growth of 390,300 local jobs from 2007 to 2015 went to Singaporeans, against the increase of 534,600 foreign jobs?