SINGAPORE - The number of job vacancies saw its first quarterly decline since March 2009 in the third quarter of last year, as employers scaled back on hiring amid the weaker economic outlook.

According to the latest job vacancies report released yesterday by the Manpower Ministry, the figure fell 13 per cent to 48,100 vacancies (seasonally adjusted), down from 55,300 in June last year.

According to the report, service and sales workers such as waiters, security guards and sales assistants were most in demand, accounting for 11,550 or 22 per cent of total vacancies.

This was followed by associate professionals and technicians (9,200 or 17 per cent) and professionals (7,760 or 15 per cent).

Teaching professionals (2,030) topped the list of Professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET) vacancies.

Other highly sought-after PMETs included management executives (1,520), electronics engineers (580), sales and marketing managers (530), civil engineers (510), software, Web and multimedia developers (470) and mechanical engineering technicians (440).

The services industry generated three quarters of the openings last year, while manufacturing accounted for 15 per cent, and construction 6.8 per cent.

Nearly two in three vacancies in 2011 required workers with working experience. In addition, around two in three positions were vacant for less than six months last year.

Amid the tight labour market, the proportion of vacancies unfilled for at least six months rose to 35 per cent in 2011, up from 33 per cent a year ago. There were 18,230 vacancies unfilled for at least six months last year.

Recruitment firm Kelly Services expects job vacancies to be "inconsistent" this year. But its vice-president of Professional and Technical, Mark Sparrow, believes job vacancies for contract and part-time workers will rise.

"Companies are probably looking less to commit permanent costs into their business when they might have options which are more flexible.

"I would expect to see a rise in these contractors, in the use of flexible workers in whatever capacity - whether that is in the administrative level, even in some of the niche skill sets and in some cases leadership levels," he said.

Saifulbahri Ismail