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Network Economy
ICT Employment Opportunities: Stage 4
Singapore, is the smallest county in Southeast Asia, has a highly developed market-based economy. A well-developed country and is considered one of the best destinations for people seeking job opportunities abroad. Singapore has experience a high employment rates for a long period of time. In 2010 the unemployment rate was only 2.2%. The main employers in Singapore are in the service industry (67.3%0), followed by manufacturing (19.8%) and construction (12.2%). Overall they are a large amount of job opportunities in Singapore. Below is a table showing Singapore’s rates for 2010.
We rate Singapore as a stage 4 in the category of Employment Opportunities because they have a very low unemployment rate and have many job opportunities available for individual who have a higher education and technical skills.
Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Electronics Commerce: Stage 3
Singapore is a highly educated country who has a very high level of IT literacy. In 2004, Singapore ranked 7th in e-readiness, ahead of other countries in the Asia Pacific region such as Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zeeland. Singapore has the legal and policy framework, infrastructure, and capabilities to promote the use of the internet and most importantly the governance of e-commerce. However, Singapore ranked lower than other countries such as Korea and New Zeeland in the level of B2C e-commerce participation with only 9%.
Singapore has a very sound financial sector and has the reputation as a safe haven. Singapore is set to become a regional hub for e-commerce. The government created a ten-year master plan called Information and Communication Technology 21 (ICT21) in 2000 to position itself as a global capital of information and communication technology by 2010.
We rate Singapore a stage 3 in this category, many companies in Singapore web pages providing customers information about their company and products. The country is set up for expansion in this area and we can see this rating going up to a four in the near future.
Business-to-Business (B2B) Electronic Commerce: Stage 3
Singapore is rapidly going in the IT work and has all the technologies a company would need to set up shop. In 2000, companies such as GE Plastics and Eastman Chemical Company both located in the US chose Singapore as their Asia-Pacific hub from e-commerce. Singapore is also home of three leading B2B electronic procurement and marketplace technology players: Ariba, CommerceOne and FreeMarkets. With the presence of these players, Singapore should see more B2B exchanges to set up operation in the up and coming years.
We rate Singapore a stage 3 in the category of B2B. Singapore is on the rise in this category, they have had a few companies come in a set up shop and the number is suspected to increase over the next few years.
E-Government: Stage 4
Singapore has developed an e-Governance focusing on Rapidity, Reliability, Efficiency, Cost-Effectiveness, Customer-orientation and Accessibility to provide quality services to users in the digital economy. Singapore had created five thrust and six programs of e-governance. Singapore has successfully developed a strong foundation for e-government. Many strengths and opportunities fuel the development of e-Government in Singapore such as sound economic policies, political willingness, and a robust educational system to produce tech savvy employees. Singapore constantly improving to prepare with new threats and challenges such as cybercrimes, security, and privacy concerns.
We rate Singapore’s e-government a stage 4. The country’s leadership has recognized the importance of a significant and comprehensive Internet and is constantly looking for improvements.
