Daily Lessons from Life 25 June 2012 - Do skilled immigrants create jobs or take away jobs from locals?

"Goh Chok Tong asks: Do skilled immigrants create jobs or take away jobs from locals? AsiaOne 25 June 2012

Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong may be one of the proponents of Singapore’s pro-foreigner and ultra-liberal immigration policies, but till today, he is still unsure if ‘skilled’ immigrants help create jobs or take them away from native Singaporeans.

In a post on his Facebook last night, Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh shared an article he read on the Asian Wall Street Journal and asked: “Do skilled immigrants create jobs or take away jobs from locals? Just read an article in AWSJ on this debate in the US. Prof Slaughter, the writer, said that “skilled immigrants have long supported US jobs and living standards. They bring human capital, financial capital, and connections to opportunities abroad.”

He added that it would be ‘good’ for economists to research the subject in depth though the floodgates have been opened to foreigners from all over the world way back in the early 2000s causing Singapore to be ‘swarmed’. This subject is a hot button issue in Singapore. It would be good if economists could research this subject in depth. It would help advance debate on this politically sensitive issue.”

Interesting that ESM Goh cited AWSJ, a newspapers that sometimes got itself banned in Singapore for refusing to allow '1st Right of Rebuttal without editing' to Singapore government for some reporting that were controversial.

Lessons for me are:

1. hopefully the government would had thoroughly researched the impact of having more immigrants (skilled as defined) on employment for Singaporeans before the very liberal and massive influx of immigrants took place. This 'request' by ESM Goh seems to suggest it was not? I think not. Yes?;

2. It is still a general 'feeling' that Singapore cannot really attract the very best of the skilled immigrants to sink roots in Singapore as many used it as a stepping stone to move on to the so-called developed economies like USA, UK, Australia, Canada, etc. We need to research WHY we are not attractive too if we are doing the 'do immigrants take or create jobs for Singaporean?';

3. I hope the government does has a master plan when it comes to type of industries to promote, the associated manpower requirement, the lead time to turn out quality replacement of these 'skilled' foreigners by Singaporeans so that they move UP the ladder and assume bigger responsibilities and higher pay! When you have 1/4 or slightly more of the workers population are foreigners, you know you have a problem! Admit it and deal with it.....

May someone prove that many guy-feel that 'cheap foreign workers' take away jobs and depressed pay package for Singaporeans who are equally qualified!