Govt to strengthen job information

I refer to the article “Govt to look into doing more to strengthen job market information” (Channel NewsAsia, Mar 5).

It states that “The Government will look into doing more to strengthen job market information, so job seekers are more aware of where vacancies are, and employers know where to find workers.

“They felt one of the biggest frustrations is this imperfect information,” said Mr Lim, speaking to media after the event. “So when workers are looking for jobs, they have no idea where are the jobs. Then when companies are looking for workers, they have no idea where are the workers available.”

Disclose statistics on jobs to S’poreans, PRs & foreigners? 

For starters, the statistics should be disclosed as to how many of the jobs in the National Jobs Bank went to Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners.

As to “I would say, this in a way, is one area where we can do a lot more to strengthen the market information so that job seekers and the employers looking for workers can create a platform. So they can know the source of supply, the source of demand much better.

Real-time updates on jobs unfilled & job seekers still unemployed?

“And I think we do have a foundation for that, because over the last one and a half years or so, we have established this National Jobs Bank. I think the National Jobs Bank can provide the basic platform for us to nurture further into a platform whereby job seekers, as well as employers looking for workers, can come together, become a marketplace, bringing the supply of jobs and supply of workers coming together” – perhaps there can be real-time updates, so that everyone can see how long a job has remained unfilled, and how long a job seeker has remained unemployed.

Leong Sze Hian.