Fewer job vacancies unfilled in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Feb. 2 (Chinese media) -- Singapore registered fewer unfilled job vacancies due to softening labor market as of September 2008, according to local media Monday.

According to TV broadcaster Channelnewsasia's report, the country's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Monday that only 28 percent of openings in September 2008 were unfilled for six months or more, compared to 36 percent on year.

There were about 2,000 openings for construction and manufacturing laborers as of September 2008, said the report, adding that a continued slowdown in the manufacturing sector resulted in a sharp decline of 44 percent of openings in plant and machine operators.

Official statistics showed that the country's manufacturing output fell 13.5 percent in December 2008 over a year ago.

However, the demand for professionals has seen a 37 percent increase as of September 2008 over the same period in 2007, which was due to a boost from the public sector, said the report.