Nearly half of all job vacancies were for PMETs last year: MOM

SINGAPORE - Around five in 10 job vacancies in 2016 were for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).

This was revealed by the Ministry of Manpower in its "Job Vacancies 2016" report on Tuesday (Feb 7).

According to the report, majority of the PMET vacancies were from community, social & personal services, financial & insurance services, professional services and information & communications.

The top PMET job openings in 2016 include teaching & training professionals; management executives; software, web & multimedia developers; registered nurses and enrolled or assistant nurses.

Job vacancies for PMETs increased from 39 per cent in 2013 to 49 per cent last year - a trend which MOM attributes to restructuring efforts in the economy and workforce.

Meanwhile, there was a decline in non-PMET vacancies, mainly in accommodation & food services, construction, wholesale & retail trade and manufacturing.

Among the non-PMET occupations listed, there were 11,840 vacancies for service & sales workers, followed by 6,540 positions for cleaners, labourers & related workers.

The report also found that there were fewer vacancies unfilled for at least six months. Common PMET occupations which were harder to fill include software, web & multimedia developers, registered nurses and enrolled/assistant nurses.

For non-PMET openings, positions for service & sales workers and craftsmen & related trade workers were more difficult to fill.

Employers indicated low pay, long workweek and shift work as characteristics that made non-PMET openings unattractive to locals. On the other hand, the lack of necessary work experience was the top reason that some PMET openings that were hard to fill.

debwong@sph.com.sg