THE labour market will remain robust despite the United States financial tsunami, although prospects will not be as good as they were six months ago, said human resource (HR) expert James Mendes.

Competition will be most intense for workers in the luxury retail, food and beverage, and hotel sectors, with the integrated resorts (IRs) coming on stream in the second half of next year.

Mr Mendes, the Asia-Pacific managing director for HR firm Alexander Mann Solutions, said that three out of every four companies he had spoken to in Singapore had turned 'more conservative in their hiring forecast' than they were three to six months ago.

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