How Singaporean Workers Are Supported Through the AI Transition

At the same time, workers are asking: Will my job still be here? Are my skills still relevant? What support can I get? 

On 6 May 2026, Parliament debated the Motion on “An AI Transition with No Jobless Growth”, outlining how the tripartite partners - Government, employers and unions - are working together to help workers adapt and benefit from AI – to ensure no one is left behind. 

This article breaks down what that means for workers in Singapore.

Will AI take away jobs in Singapore?

AI is augmenting jobs – not replacing humans.

Companies who have adopted AI are:

• Redesigning existing roles

• Shifting workers towards higher-value tasks

• Creating new jobs related to AI use, governance and oversight

With job matching and reskilling support, workers can move into roles that build on their existing skills, rather than be displaced.

While AI can help with repetitive and predictable tasks, AI cannot replace human judgment, empathy and genuine connection. 

As part of the Tripartite Jobs Council, the Government will work with employers and unions to ensure that the gains in this AI era will be shared with workers.

How exactly is AI changing the way we work?

AI is not just about automation. It can analyse data and automate tasks, but jobs that require judgment, empathy and real human connection — such as roles in healthcare, education, community and social services — still depend on people.

That is why Singapore’s Economic Strategy Review Committee (ESR) is focused on identifying where AI can help the economy grow and create good jobs – not simply replace labour.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) continues to monitor AI’s impact closely, with a clear goal:

• More workplaces where workers use AI to do better and more meaningful work

• Fewer situations where AI replaces workers outright

What support is there for workers during the AI transition?

A simpler, more integrated support system

From 2026, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) will merge to form the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA).

For workers, this means:

• A one-stop platform for access to career guidance, skills training and job matching

• More personalised advice based on skills data and labour-market needs

The aim is to make it simpler for workers to figure out what skills to learn and what jobs they can move into.

How can workers build AI skills?

For working adults

Workers can:

• Use diagnostic tools to assess their current AI readiness

• Identify suitable courses based on their role and industry needs

From the second half of 2026, Singaporeans who enrol in selected SkillsFuture AI courses will receive six months of free access to premium AI tools. This is to help them practise and apply what they learn to meet job demands and industry needs. 

For students and graduates

• Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will continue updating curricula to keep pace with AI developments

• All IHLs will offer selected AI-related courses to alumni at a discounted rate for one year from the second half of 2026

Graduates can tap on SkillsFuture Work-Study Programmes, which combine classroom learning with on-the-job training to build both skills and work experience

Who is driving AI efforts and its impact on jobs?

Tripartite cooperation remains key

A new Tripartite Jobs Council (TJC) has been formed to coordinate efforts between:

• The Government

• Employers

• Unions

The TJC focuses on:

• Supporting responsible AI adoption

• Driving job redesign

• Strengthening skills training

• Raising awareness of available worker support

This tripartite approach has enabled Singapore to navigate past economic disruptions and will continue to guide the AI transition.

What does “an AI transition with no jobless growth” mean?

It means:

• Using AI to raise productivity levels without increasing unemployment rates

• Helping workers reskill and move into new or redesigned roles

• Ensuring economic growth goes hand-in-hand with good jobs and clear progression pathways

The focus is not just on adopting AI quickly, but on adopting it responsibly, in a way that benefits workers, businesses and the wider economy together.

In summary

AI will continue to change how we work. However, with the Government’s support and strong tripartite cooperation, Singapore seeks to ensure that:

• Workers remain employable

• Jobs become better, not fewer

• No one is left behind in the AI transition