Construction is among the top sectors hiring new local workers

Singapore, 15 February 2021 – Two months into the implementation of the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI), the number of new local hires getting support under the scheme has doubled to over 110,000 compared to the inaugural month.

Based on estimates of the JGI take-up in October 2020, the new local workers were employed by around 26,000 employers. About half of them were aged 40 and above.

Of the 14,000 or so employers who qualified for JGI pay-outs as at September 2020, about 80 per cent maintained or expanded their local hiring the following month. In October 2020, over 11,000 new employers became eligible for JGI. A majority of all eligible employers hired one to two local workers. About 20 per cent of the eligible employers hired five or more local workers.

Top hiring sectors include food services (17,800 JGI-supported hires), wholesale trade (9,800), professional services (8,400), retail (7,000) and construction (7,000).

The government has set aside S$1 billion for the JGI to encourage employers to bring forward their hiring plans and accelerate the hiring of locals. The JGI provides eligible employers with substantial salary support for all new local hires at all wage levels, with higher support for mature hires. For each new local hire aged below 40, the government will co-pay 25 per cent of the first S$5,000 of gross monthly wages for 12 months from the month of hire.

For each new mature local hire aged 40 and above, the government support is doubled to 50 per cent. In total, eligible firms can receive up to S$15,000 for each local hire aged below 40, and S$30,000 for each local hire aged 40 and above. To receive the full amount of support, employers must continue to meet the eligibility criteria for the 12-month period.

– Construction+ Online

Source: Ministry of Manpower