Singapore jobless rate at 1-year high, seen rising

SINGAPORE, July 31 - Singapore's jobless rate rose to a one-year high as firms slowed hiring amid choppy financial markets and a weakening global economy, and analysts warned that unemployment may climb in coming months.

The jobless rate rose to 2.3 percent in the April-June period after seasonal adjustments, compared to 2 percent in the previous quarter, the Ministry of Manpower said in preliminary data on Thursday.

Employment rose by 70,600 in the second quarter, slowing from a rise of 73,200 in the January-March period.

Economists said the rising jobless rate was evidence that the economic slowdown had extended beyond economic data and was spreading into the real economy, although Singapore's labour market is still expected to remain tight this year.

"The labour market is going to soften as growth...slows," said Irvin Seah, an economist at DBS. "We don't expect a sharp rise in retrenchments but things are going to move along at a slower pace."

Economists said the tight labour market -- the unemployment rate was at a 10-year low in the fourth quarter -- may fuel price pressures in Singapore where inflation is at a 26-year high.
"The labour market is still tight but it is moving towards a more sustainable pace that will soften the margin squeeze on companies," Seah said.

The booming construction industry created a record 22,100 jobs in the second quarter, compared to 14,500 in the first three months of the year, as building deals carried over from last year's red-hot property market -- which has since cooled -- continued to fuel activity.

Services, which includes the key financial sector, added 37,600 jobs in the April-June period, slowing from the first quarter when 46,500 jobs were created.

Employment in manufacturing rose by 10,200, down from an increase of 11,800 in the first quarter.

Retrenchments in Singapore fell to 1,900 in the second quarter from 2,274 in the previous quarter.

Heng Swee Keat, Singapore's central bank chief, said this month unemployment rate is seen at 2 percent for 2008.

Economies across Asia are expected to slow this year as growth in the key U.S. and Europe export markets weaken, while demand in emerging markets are not as strong as hoped.
Singapore's trade-driven economy, a barometer for global demand for Asian exports, shrank an annualised and seasonally adjusted 6.6 percent in the second quarter, its biggest contraction in five years.

NOT here in the Singapore Zoo...

Career Opportunities at the Zoo (http://www.zoo.com.sg/careers/careers.htm)

Animal Presentations Department
Show Presenters (FT/PT)

Finance & IT Department
IT Project Manager
Accounts Assistant
Finance Manager

Exhibit Design Department
Architect
Food and Beverage Department
F&B Supervisors
F&B Service Crew
F&B Service Crew (PT)
Asst Managers - Banquet/Restaurant

Life Sciences, Research & Conservation
Director, Life Sciences, Veterinary, Conservation & Education
Reseach & Conservation Curator

Operations Department
Play Crew
Service Leader
Receptionist (PT)
Senior Operations Manager
Tram Captain (Part Time)
Operations Assistant
Operations Assistant (Hourly Rated)
Ticketing Supervisor
Ticketing Staff (hourly rated)
Wild Discoverer Guide
Boat Captain
Boat Crew
Boat Guide

Retail Department
Retail Exec
Retail Asst (FT)
Retail Supervisors
Visual Merchandiser

Veterinary
Vet Nurse

Zoology Department
Animal Keeper

Singapore Zoo: Blood Donation Drive

Saving animals and ensuring their continued survival is part and parcel of the Singapore Zoo mission, but what about saving people?

Come August 6 2008, Singapore Zoo, in collaboration with Singapore Red Cross, is doing just that by holding a blood donation drive for both members of the public and its staff.

The drive hopes to address the rising need of blood in hospitals nationwide. About 350 units of blood are needed daily by hospitals across Singapore, especially O blood types.

While recognising that getting more people to donate blood is an uphill task, the Singapore Zoo hopes the blood drive will encourage staff and the public to come forward and do their part.
All donors will be presented a special certificate of participation in recognition of their help. Every pack of blood counts and every donor makes a difference!

Details:
Date: 6 August 2008 (Wednesday) Venue: Singapore Zoo 80 Mandai Lake Road

Singapore 729826

Time: 11am to 5pm
All donors are required to bring along their NRIC for registration and verification purposes. Registration point is at the entrance of Singapore Zoo.

Top 10 Zoo in the World

http://blog.ratestogo.com/best-zoos

As a child, I loved visiting the zoo. The world’s most incredible species all gathered into one location for our viewing pleasure. As I grew up, the novelty wore off as I began viewing animals as innocent victims that had been plucked from their natural habitats, but that opinion soon changed as well.

Today’s zoos have evolved and are much more sophisticated than the ones I visited more than 20 years ago. They’re developed to resemble the natural habitats of each animal, allowing them to roam, mate, and feed as they would have anywhere else in the world. The world is full of zoos, and we’ve searched each continent for the best (for both you and the animals)!

10. Animal Kingdom, Orlando
9. Basel Zoo, Switzerland
8. Beauval Zoo, France
7. Bronx Zoo, New York
6. National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
5. Berlin Zoological Garden, Germany
4. Schonbrunner Zoo, Australia
3. Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, DC
2. Toronto Zoo
1. Singapore Zoo

Will I be able to visit them all in my life time?