THE effects of the economic recovery are starting to show on the ground, although the number of people needing aid now is still higher than before the financial meltdown last year.
Community development councils (CDCs) have reported a fall in the number of people approaching them for help in recent months, and with companies starting to hire, more people have been placed in jobs.
But North East District Mayor Teo Ser Luck recommends tempered optimism: Cheer the emergence of positive signs, but remain cautious and continue to tighten your purse strings, he said.
His CDC had 10 per cent fewer people - 1,344 who earned $1,500 or less - asking for meal vouchers and school fee waivers between July and September than in the previous quarter between April and July.
Between July and September, the CDC placed more than half of its job-seekers in production, cleaning and clerical jobs - 56.6 per cent - up from a third in the previous quarter.
The South West CDC also handled fewer requests for help in job-hunting - 1,548 between July and September, compared with 2,139 between April and June.
jermync@sph.com.sg
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
