Singapore's Economic Boom Attracts Asian Workers

June 2008POEA MARKET UPDATE NO. 12-08SINGAPORE'S ECONOMIC BOOM ATTRACTS ASIAN WORKERSThe continued growth of Singapore's economy has resulted to construction of major infrastructures like the two (2) multibillion-dollar casino developments, subways lines, residential and other projects. The construction projects have consequently generated high demand for foreign construction workers and laborers. According to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, the construction sector employs the largest number of foreign workers in the country. There are about 150,000 foreign workers employed in this sector mostly coming from Non-Traditional Source countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Pakistan. Foreign construction workers in Singapore can earn three to four times the salary they earn back home.For jobseekers considering overseas jobs in the tourism industry, the employment prospects are promising in Singapore due to the rosy outlook for the tourism industry in the next few years. It is estimated that Singapore would need 70,000 workers to fill the jobs to be created by ten to twenty hotels being built in the island state.These developments present bright employment prospects for...