Thousands of new roles will be created in Singapore as a result of the expansion of the state's low-carbon sector.

This is according to the Straits Times, which estimates that 18,000 positions will be created in the clean technology field between now and 2015.

An estimated 3,000 of these roles will be in cleantech research and development, with specialists needed including those to fill manufacturing, construction, project management and finance jobs in Singapore.

Singapore currently has around 8,000 individuals working in green collar jobs and the Economic Development Board suggests this figure will rise sharply over the next five years.

Mechanical engineering graduate Chen Wan Ying told the Sunday Times that she had decided to work at the Asia-Pacific headquarters of Danish firm Vestas because of her interest in the low-carbon sector.

"I wanted to do research in wind turbines to help drive down the cost of wind power, making such renewable energy more competitive and on a par with oil and gas," she stated.

Singapore's gross domestic produce rose during the second quarter of 2010 by 18.8 per cent year-on-year as the jurisdiction recovers from the impact of the economic downturn, with official figures placing unemployment at 2.2 per cent out of a total population of 5.08 million in June.

Posted by Kate Griffin