Human Resources, Labour Markets and Unemployment: The Impact of the SARS Epidemic on the Service Sector in Singapore

On 12 March 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a ‘global alert’ on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a newly emerging respiratory illness associated with potentially significant morbidity and mortality (World Health Organization, 2003). International travel appeared to be responsible for the rapid intercontinental spread of this disease, and by 31 May 2003, SARS had affected 32 countries with a total number of 8,360 cases (916 proving fatal overall, with 33 dying in Singapore, we shall shortly see) (World Health Organization, 2003).