According to a recent poll we conducted, most people agree with the government’s latest move to raise foreign worker levies in order to curb the influx of foreigners in Singapore.

However, is it really the best solution in the long run? Users of the JobsCentral Forum have an interesting variety of opinions on the issue. Botakboy89 agrees with the government that “if access to labour is too easy, companies will have little incentive to invest in productivity improvements, which will affect (their) efforts to upgrade the skills and wages of lower-income Singaporean workers”.

On the other hand, Whistler thinks that “they (employers) will go overseas if their operations become too expensive, meaning less jobs for Singaporeans, especially if Singaporeans don't have the right skill sets”.

Other hot topics on the JobsCentral Forum currently include:

females reach certain age, hard to find job? is it a bad thing 2 keep chnging job?
How to NOT put on weight @ work
Too old for a degree?
Should i call up the interviewer?

So check out these hot topics and share what YOU think with other jobseekers and working professionals today!

With an aging population, there is an increasing need for more professional healthcare providers. Ms Theresa Cheong, Head of Allied Health Sciences, EASB tells JobsCentral more about jobs in the healthcare industry.

1) How many allied health professionals are in shortage in Singapore at the moment? What is the estimated figure to be like in the next few years?

We have about 800 physiotherapists and this figure on a per population basis is way behind that of HK and Australia. The HK standard is 1 per 30,000 population, and Australia 1 to 10000 to 12000 population.

The comparative ratio for Singapore is 1 per 50,000 persons based on a population of four million. We will need another 500 physiotherapists to bring the comparative ratio down to 1 in 30,770.

The pursuit for creative expression is instinctive to students from Raffles Design Institute, where an array of design-related programmes are available.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

Step into the quaint campus of Raffles Design Institute and you’ll be greeted by an atmosphere of unique inventiveness made alive by the impressive display of students’ designs at its reception.

Established in 1990, the school develops creative professionals and entrepreneurs in the areas of Fashion Design, Interior Design, Interactive Media Design (Multimedia Design, Animation, and Games Design), 3D Design (Product, Furniture, and Jewellery Design), Graphic Design, and Fashion Marketing (Fashion Marketing & Management, Retail Management, and Fashion Communication & Journalism).

The education provider also spans major cities in China, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand.

Stepping out, stepping up
Industry experience might kick-start a career in design, but propelling to success requires the support of a good foundation in design concepts.

Fashion Design student Zhang Xiaoqing has experienced this firsthand.

“Because what I studied in my previous college was very basic knowledge, I had to learn a lot of things by myself,” the 31-year-old reveals.

If you’re on the lookout for a career that guarantees you a promising ascend to success, look no further than the RSAF.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

In the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the pace of learning and development is inexorable. For Air Operations Systems Specialist (AOSS) Chen Huiling, gaining and applying the knowledge of operating various equipment is unique only to a career at the RSAF.

For the Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) alumnus, inspiration came in the distinctive form of a former polytechnic classmate who was an RSAF Warrant Officer in 2004. “She shared with me her story of what it’s like to be in the RSAF and her personal experiences, and that made me want to find out more about working there,” says Huiling.

“The recruitment drive in NYP made me understand more about AOSS and the complex job we have, having to work hand-in-hand in the controller-ATC (Authorised Training Centres) environment,” she adds.

As an AOSS, Huiling is primarily trained in operating, maintaining and servicing radars and sensor systems within the RSAF. Her job, she says, made her understand “the need and importance of (her) role to ensure that the Singapore airspace is safe”.

The private education sector in Singapore has been growing swiftly over the past decade. However, recent events have led to much scrutiny of the sector, and calls to raise the standards of private education institutions here.

In light of these developments, which are the preferred private schools in Singapore currently? Who are the people interested in pursuing further education and why do they want to do so? Which are the most popular courses and how much are they willing to spend on their next level of qualification? What are the key factors of consideration when deciding which institution to apply for?

The JobsCentral Learning Survey Report answers these questions and more.

With 7,761 respondents, we believe this is the largest and most comprehensive private education survey in Singapore. Packed with interesting information and insightful analyses, this is a survey report that all prospective students and stakeholders of private education institutions will not want to miss.

CLICK HERE to download a complimentary (regular price: S$3,300) copy of the Survey report.

To find out more about academic and professional development courses, visit JobsCentral Learning here.