Singapore – Employers hire foreigners because they are flexible

Employers choose to hire non-Singaporeans because they are flexible in taking up jobs locals avoid, not because they are cheaper to employ, a local survey has found.

The JobStreet.com survey of 1,400 Singaporean jobseekers and 200 employers found that 93 per cent indicated that their companies hire non-Singaporeans, making up an average of 30 to 50 per cent of the company’s workforce.

While 66 per cent of locals considered the low cost of labour the reason for hiring non-Singaporeans, only 16 per cent of employers cited this as the reason.

Four in 10 said they hired foreigners because they are more flexible in taking up jobs locals avoid, 24 per cent said foreigners were more diligent and work longer hours, while another 20 per cent said they were better skilled in their areas of expertise.

The survey also found that local employees felt strongest about wages being potentially depressed by lower-cost foreign labour. Another concern was losing employment and career advancement opportunities to non-Singaporeans…

Singapore, Why employers hire foreigners

via TODAYonline | Singapore | Why employers hire foreigners: Survey.