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Written Answer by Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on employment statistics of older workers

Employment practices

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1037 OF 2017 FOR THE SITTING ON 6 FEBRUARY 2018
QUESTION NO. 778 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Desmond Choo

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) over the last five years, how many Singaporeans continued to work beyond 62 years old and 67 years old respectively; and (b) what are the respective profiles of Singaporeans who are employed beyond 67 years of age and their jobs.

Answer 

  1. The number of employed residents aged 62 and over, and 67 and over has increased over the last five years (see Table 1).

    Table 1: Number of Employed Residents, 2013 to 2017 (June)
    Age 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
    62 & Over 166,800 193,400 195,000 212,000 230,500
    67 & Over 61,700 77,700 77,400 85,000 100,900
    Source: Manpower Research & Statistics Department, MOM

  2. Of all employed residents aged 67 and over in 2017: 64% were males; 80% held secondary and below qualifications, 9% had post-secondary qualifications, while 11% were tertiary-educated; 52% of this group of older workers were employed as production & transport operators, cleaners & labourers, 26% were clerical, sales & service workers, and 22% professionals, managers, executives & technicians. This is broadly in line with their educational profile.