Surely a job paying more than $1,000 will find ready takers, especially in these difficult times? Not always true - Singaporeans are shunning certain jobs. A Sunday Times check found 10 jobs that pay more than $1,000 which locals, even jobless ones, are reluctant to take up.
1 Bus driver
Salary: $1,700 to $3,500
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Long and irregular hours, dealing with difficult commuters
Said Ms Tammy Tan, spokesman for SBS Transit: 'It is a challenge attracting Singaporeans to join us as Bus Captains. This is despite our various efforts over the years to promote the profession.'
2 Telemarketer
Salary: $800 to $1,000 plus commissions
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Lots of patience and perseverance required
Said Ms Jessica Goh, project manager of Plugworkz, a call centre: 'It is tough to get locals. Not all can take the hardship. Some even go missing after we have trained them.'
3 Customer service officer
Salary: $1,000 to $2,000
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires dealing with rude and angry customers on a daily basis; night shift too
Said Mr Adrian Tan, managing director of HR consultancy Recruit Plus: 'This has always been one of the harder positions to fill. Nobody wants to be a punching bag.'
4 Security guard
Salary: $1,200 to $1,300
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires 12-hour shifts
Said Mr Raja Muthi, executive officer at King's Security: 'Some quit after one day because they can't take the long working hours.
'There's an image problem too. People think it's for the uneducated, and that we are just watchdogs. It's not a glamorous job.'
5 Retail assistant
Salary: $1,000 to $1,800
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Being constantly on one's feet
Said Ms Mary Lin, director of Glitter Glam: 'It is still hard to recruit, but the recession has made people less fussy. Before, we had people who fixed the interview but did not turn up.'
6 Warehouse assistant
Salary: $900 to $1,400
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Warehouses are often in outlying areas, such as Tuas. Many locals are picky about location and working hours
Said Ms C. Loh, manager at a recruitment agency: 'Locals shun such jobs because the warehouse is located, say, at Jurong East or they have to work 12-hour shifts.'
7 Delivery driver
Salary: $1,400 to $1,600
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Dislike carrying heavy loads
Said Ms Shandy Tan, manager at Sim Lian Construction: 'We have labourers who are supposed to carry the material, but if the driver can help to carry some, it would make the work faster. We get many calls asking if they have to carry the stuff.'
8 Waitress
Salary: $1,800 onwards excluding tips
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Requires long hours on a night shift, including serving rowdy and drunk customers
Said Mr K. Lim, manager of a karaoke lounge in Lavender: 'My workers can get tips that are double their basic salary, but they are mostly work permit holders from China and Malaysia.'
9 Masseuse
Salary: $1,000 onwards, depending on experience
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Social stigma, and dealing with sticky or smelly bodies
Said Mr W.T. Chua, owner of a spa in Bedok: 'It is quite difficult to hire locals, who think that being a masseuse is not respectable. It's a matter of perception.'
10 Foot reflexologist
Salary: $1,000 onwards, depending on experience
Why Singaporeans shun the job: Touching others' feet is considered degrading
Said Ms Ang May Lin, senior therapist at a spa which has saunas in the Orchard area: 'Locals prefer to work in an air-con environment and be faced with pleasant things. They think they're too high-class.'
4 Security guard
9 Masseuse
