SINGAPORE – Part-timers were more sought after during the year end than they were in the past few years, even pre-pandemic, as travel and festivities returned in full swing in 2022.
Portal JobStreet Singapore noted that more companies started hiring part-timers one month earlier, from October, in 2022 than in 2021. National University of Singapore labour economist Kelvin Seah said Covid-19 restrictions have lifted substantially now compared with the festive season in 2021. She added that to manage the surge in demand driven by shopping festivals such as 11.11, Black Friday, 12.12, Christmas and New Year’s Day, the firm typically increases manpower over November and December for positions such as warehouse assistants and drivers.
In 2021, 64 per cent of hourly part-time salaries were between $8 and $10. In 2022, 68 per cent of these salaries were between $10 and $12. Commonwealth Capital said its brands’ hourly wages are generally higher by about 10 per cent to 15 per cent during the festive season, but in a tight labour market, it is expected that not all vacancies will be filled.
Ninja Van Singapore commercial head Kooh Wee Hou said the logistics firm invests in technology such as parcel scanners that tell sorters where items should go and a route optimisation system so drivers deliver packages more efficiently.