XN000022-1991-10-28 — Page 3

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NJ

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1991

THE

OF PROPORTION OF

COMPARING THE 1981 AND 1991 POPULATION PYRAMIDS, THE BASK THE

PYRAMID SHRUNK OWING TO A REDUCTION IN CHILDREN UNDER AGE 15.

1991

HOWEVER, THE INCREASE IN EXPLAINED.

THE

APEX OF THE PYRAMID GREW BIGGER PROPORTION OF THE ELDERLY AGED

BECAUSE 65 AND

OF

AN

OVER,

HE

MR MOK ALSO SAID THE LABOUR FORCE INCREASED FROM 2.5 MILLION IN 1981 TO 2. 8 MILLION THIS YEAR DESPITE A DROP IN THE OVERALL LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE FROM 67 PER CENT IN 1981 TO 64 PER CENT YEAR.

THIS

HAD

"AS A RESULT OF AGING OF THE POPULATION, THE LABOUR FORCE BECOME OLDER, WITH ITS MEDIAN AGE INCREASING FROM 32 YEARS TO 34 YEARS IN THE PERIOD," HE SAID.

ABOUT ONE

MANAGERS, QUARTER OF THE WORKING POPULATION WERE ADMINISTRATORS, PROFESSIONALS

WHEREAS AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONALS, WORKERS TN ELEMENTARY OCCUPATIONS SUCH AS

MESSENGERS, CLEANERS,

WATCHMEN AND

HANDLERS MADE UP ONE-FIPTH OF THE WORKING

POPULATION.

FREIGHT

MEANWHILE,

THE INDUSTRIAL

DISTRIBUTION OF

THE WORKING NUMBER

POPULATION HAD ALSO CHANGED WITH A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE OF WORKERS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL, IMPORT TRADES,

HAD RESTAURANTS, HOTELS AND SERVICES INDUSTRIES INCREASES IN THEIR NUMBER OF WORKERS.

AND EXPORT SUBSTANTIAL

MR MOK ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE INCOME OF WORKERS EMPLOYMENT INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS.

FROM MAIN

THIS YEAR, THE MEDIAN PERSONAL EARNINGS WAS $5,170 PER REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 241 PER CENT OVER THAT IN 1981.

IN

MEASURED PERIOD, THE INFLATION RATE AS INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) WAS 116 PER CENT.

THE SAME

MONTH,

BY

THE

.

"THIS SUGGESTS THAT THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN EARNINGS OF WORKERS IN REAL TERMS, HE SAID.

THE

ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF THE POPULATION, THE COMMISSIONER SAID THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT.

HIGHER

HR SAID THE PROPORTION OF POPULATION WITH SECONDARY OR EDUCATION INCREASED FROM 50 PER CENT IN 1981 TO 62 PER CENT THIS YEAR.

PER

FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION THE PROPORTION INCREASED FROM SEVEN CENT TO ELEVEN PER CENT. FOR DEGREE COURSES,

PARTICULAR, IN INCREASE WAS FROM THREE PER CENT TO SIX PER CENT.

THE

THE COMMISSIONER ALSO SAID THE HOUSING CONDITIONS ALSO IMPROVED MARKEDLY DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS.

/OVER THE