Joanna Seow
30 Jan 2022
Observers and industry players cite the shortage of manufacturing workers as a key factor behind the churn in the industry
SINGAPORE - With business picking up as the economy recovers, Mr Albert Loh, chief executive of electronics manufacturer PTS Technologies, is looking to expand his staff strength by 30 per cent to 40 per cent this year to meet growing demand. But he is facing a big challenge in attracting local workers skilled in electronics engineering,
especially with competition from multinational corporations (MNCs).Young people or those who are more ambitious tend to want to join MNCs because they think the opportunities are better there. SMEs are always at the bottom of the food chain," he says, referring to small and medium-sized businesses like his.
Besides expanding, he is also trying to replace some people who resigned towards the end of last year after being courted by MNCs.
"They told us they weren't even actively looking for jobs, but recruiters came knocking," he says, adding that some stayed when he offered to match the salary offer.
Mr Loh, who has 25 employees, says he has also noticed that some older workers in the electronics industry had quit or retired early in the last two years because their jobs required them to work on-site, and they were worried about exposure to Covid-19.