Oh No! Not another ‘plenty of jobs’ speech?

January 13, 2018

“Jobs” rhetoric needs to be supported by statistics?

I refer to the article “Maritime sector road map to create S$4.5 billion in value-add, make over 5,000 new jobs” (Straits Times, Jan 13).

It states that “The maritime industry, including the marine and offshore engineering sector, employed more than 170,000 people and contributed 7 per cent to Singapore’s economy last year.”

Why is there no breakdown of the 170,000 jobs into Singaporeans, PRs and foreigners?

What’s the point of the consistent rhetoric that lots of jobs are being created in “sector after sector” – when it is estimated that hardly any of the jobs change this year went to Singaporeans?

Leong Sze Hian

About the Author

Leong

Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications.