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An investigation of factors related to gaining employment
Author
Tan, Aik Hwee
Supervisor
Lourdusamy, Atputhasamy
Abstract
The social and economic climate in Singapore has undergone unprecedented changes in recent years. An increase in competition from other up and coming Asian economies, such as, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and China, has forced Singapore to take drastic actions to maintain her competitiveness. In order to sustain the economy, the government did what was necessary to attract high value added work into Singapore. This has brought about a rapid structural change in the job climate in Singapore. Many workers who cannot keep up with the new demands and the impact of downsizing of companies, have lost their jobs.
This study attempted to first understand the role of demographic variables namely age, gender and education level in helping workers to get themselves re-employed. The study looked at the social factors that might constitute worker reluctance to learn new skills, as well as the reasons for their pessimistic outlook on retraining.
Findings of the study revealed that there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that one's age is related to getting a job. However, it is important to note that the social-economic structure has made it much difficult for the older unemployed to be re-employed. A significant relationship between gender and employment was observed. There is higher chance of reemployment for males. Nevertheless, despite having lesser chances for employment compared with males, the study did show that females are more willing to participate in skills training than their male counterparts. Findings also indicated that there was a relationship between educational attainment and re-employability. A slightly higher percentage of unemployed workers with secondary education got re-employed, and workers with no formal initial education faired worse in their job searches. There was also a relationship between the age of unemployed workers and their participation in skills training. Older unemployed workers are more likely to participate in skills training and upgrading programmes to acquire knowledge and skills required for reemployment compared with the younger and much older unemployed workers. Additionally, there was a relationship between educational attainment and participation in skills training. The unemployed who are less educated are more likely to attend training programmes to keep their knowledge and skills updated. A significant relationship between unemployed participation in job-related or skills training and re-employment indicated that unemployed workers have more chances to be re-employed if they have attended some forms of the job training / skills upgrading programmes.
The study has also identified factors affecting workers' reluctance to learn, such as: age, individual, family or home-related commitment or problems, financial or cost concerns, worthiness, relevance or quality of the programmes, negative perceptions of the value of learning in general, lack of motivation or indifference towards learning, lack of self-confidence in one's learning abilities; and inconveniences of time and/ or place.
One important implication of this study is that job training and skills upgrading has a positive relationship to worker's employability and the workforce economic structure. Increasing workers' employability is vital for the economy to avoid further unemployment and the widening of economic and social divide between skilled and unskilled workers. The researcher concludes that increasing awareness of lifelong learning and worker's employability continues to serve to increase unemployed job seekers' participation in job training or skills upgrading programmes.
This study attempted to first understand the role of demographic variables namely age, gender and education level in helping workers to get themselves re-employed. The study looked at the social factors that might constitute worker reluctance to learn new skills, as well as the reasons for their pessimistic outlook on retraining.
Findings of the study revealed that there was no conclusive evidence to suggest that one's age is related to getting a job. However, it is important to note that the social-economic structure has made it much difficult for the older unemployed to be re-employed. A significant relationship between gender and employment was observed. There is higher chance of reemployment for males. Nevertheless, despite having lesser chances for employment compared with males, the study did show that females are more willing to participate in skills training than their male counterparts. Findings also indicated that there was a relationship between educational attainment and re-employability. A slightly higher percentage of unemployed workers with secondary education got re-employed, and workers with no formal initial education faired worse in their job searches. There was also a relationship between the age of unemployed workers and their participation in skills training. Older unemployed workers are more likely to participate in skills training and upgrading programmes to acquire knowledge and skills required for reemployment compared with the younger and much older unemployed workers. Additionally, there was a relationship between educational attainment and participation in skills training. The unemployed who are less educated are more likely to attend training programmes to keep their knowledge and skills updated. A significant relationship between unemployed participation in job-related or skills training and re-employment indicated that unemployed workers have more chances to be re-employed if they have attended some forms of the job training / skills upgrading programmes.
The study has also identified factors affecting workers' reluctance to learn, such as: age, individual, family or home-related commitment or problems, financial or cost concerns, worthiness, relevance or quality of the programmes, negative perceptions of the value of learning in general, lack of motivation or indifference towards learning, lack of self-confidence in one's learning abilities; and inconveniences of time and/ or place.
One important implication of this study is that job training and skills upgrading has a positive relationship to worker's employability and the workforce economic structure. Increasing workers' employability is vital for the economy to avoid further unemployment and the widening of economic and social divide between skilled and unskilled workers. The researcher concludes that increasing awareness of lifelong learning and worker's employability continues to serve to increase unemployed job seekers' participation in job training or skills upgrading programmes.
Date Issued
2003
Call Number
LC5257.S55 Tan
Date Submitted
2003