SIX in ten jobs created last year went to foreigners, the first time in at least six years that their share was larger than locals.
This comes at a time when job creation is at a record high, and unemployment and retrenchment at record lows.
The Manpower Ministry noted in its latest employment report released on Thursday that both locals - Singaporeans and permanent residents -- and foreigners benefited from the strong job creation.
Local employment grew by 92,100 last year, up from 90,900 the previous year.
This is the third successive year that local employment creation has set record highs.
But the local share of total new jobs dropped from 52 per cent in 2006 to 39 per cent last year, 'given the limits to the growth of Singapore's indigenous workforce and the larger base of jobs created', the ministry said.
Foreign employment rose by 144,500 last year, 'enabling the economy to grow beyond the limits of Singapore's indigenous workforce', it said.
As at December last year, one in three workers here - or 900,800 - were foreigners.
The booming economy, with the buoyant service and construction sectors, created 236,600 jobs, up from 176,000 in the previous year. This is an 11-year high.
The services sector contributed 144,100 more jobs, boosted by the rapid increase in hiring across a wide range of industries, led by financial and professional services.
The construction sector added 49,000 workers, double that of the previous year.
Manufacturing employment also rose, by 49,900, spurred by strong demand in marine and offshore engineering.
Overall unemployment averaged 2.1 per cent, down from 2.7 per cent the previous year. Resident unemployment fell to 3 per cent, down from 3.6 per cent in 2006. Both overall and resident unemployment are at their lowest in a decade.
On average, 56,900 residents were unemployed last year, down from 67,600 the previous year.
Similarly, retrenchment fell to a 14-year low. Overall, 7,200 workers were laid off, down from 12,603 the previous year. The bulk of lay offs came from manufacturing.
