IT jobs wiped out by foreigners?

July 22, 2014

University IT courses are hot?

We refer to the article “Computing is cool again – more and better students apply” (Straits Times, Jul 22).

It states that “in the early 2000s, NUS dons struggled to persuade top students to take up computer science degrees.

Before 3 Bs, now 2 As?

“The dot.com bust, followed by the trend of IT jobs being outsourced by companies then left many feeling that there was not much of a future in IT … Previously A-level students could enter it with three Bs. Now they need at least two As.”

IT sector and jobs most affected by FT?

– Anecdotally, we understand that the Information Technology (IT) sector and IT jobs may have been most affected by our liberal foreign labour policies.

Steep decline in the number of resident jobs as they age?

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Singapore yearbook of manpower statistics 2014 – the total number of resident workers (Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs)) as of June 2013, for Information and Communications ( IC) was 36,100, 24,400, 11,700 and 3,000 – for age 30 – 39, 40 – 49, 50 – 59 and 60 and over, respectively.

Amongst the 12 sectors in the services category – IC was the 6th highest in absolute numbers of workers in the age group 30 – 39. But, it declines relatively to 7th, 11th, and joint last (12th) – for age 40 – 49, 50 – 59 and 60 and over, respectively.

What do these statistics mean?

Jobs taken by foreign workers?

Does it mean that as resident workers in IC age, their numbers decline – due to foreign workers?

Breakdown into citizens, PRs, employment pass, S-pass & work permits?

What is the breakdown of the total number of jobs in the Information and Communications category and IT jobs, into Singaporeans, PRs, employment pass, S-pass and work permits?

Almost totally wiped out by FTs?

In this connection, at the SPP CPF Public Forum last month where I was a speaker – one of the attendees shared that the “entire IT sector and IT jobs have been almost totally wiped out by foreign workers”.

S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian

P.S. Come with your family and friends to the 3rd Return Our CPF – HDB protest on 23 August 4 pm to 6.30 pm at Speakers’ Corner https://www.facebook.com/events/648543138548193/

 

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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.