ESR Final Recommendations: What These Mean for Singapore

Find out what the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) final recommendations mean for Singapore, workers and businesses.

Last updated on 21 September 2026

How Will Singapore Stay Ahead? (Three Strategic Imperatives)

1. Sharpening Our Value Proposition

What is Singapore best at, and how will Singapore stay ahead?

Singapore cannot win on size. We must sharpen our value proposition — doubling down on what we do better than anyone else and staking out new ground before others do.

2. Agility and Adaptability

Is Singapore nimble enough to keep up?

Businesses, workers and government alike need to move faster, adapt more readily and be willing to try new things.

3. Resilience

What happens when things are beyond our control?

Disruptions from geopolitics and supply chain shocks are no longer rare events. Singapore must build resilience alongside efficiency — so we can bounce back quickly.

Download ESR Final Report: Securing Growth and Good Jobs in a Changing World (opens in new tab)

What the Economic Strategy Review Means for Workers and Their Careers

Economic Strategy Review - Supporting Workers

The ESR's approach to workers is built around three goals: creating more and a broader range of good jobs, building a stronger support system for career setbacks and transitions, and empowering workers to learn for life and take charge of their careers.

Supporting workers through a changing economy

Workers’ Concerns	Singapore’s Action Plan
Goal 1: Ensure growth creates quality jobs as AI reshapes the workforce
How will Singapore ensure good jobs as we enter the AI era?	Support Singaporeans to enter growth sectors through capability transfer Advance AI adoption that complements rather than replaces workers Make jobs in AI-resilient sectors like early childhood and allied health more attractive Strengthen entrepreneurship as a viable career path
Goal 2: Provide earlier, more integrated support before disruption hits
How will Singapore support workers who lose their jobs or need to switch careers?	Create "career bridges" combining training, guidance and job matching for at-risk workers Provide earlier retrenchment notification so workers can get help sooner Improve support schemes for Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) Monitor the impact of AI on workers and adjust policies for workers where needed
Goal 3: Make lifelong learning more accessible and tied to real work
How will Singapore ensure workers’ skills remain relevant?	Deepen SkillsFuture support and funding for modular courses taken while employed Formally recognise on-the-job training as part of qualifications Focus on AI literacy, human skills and global exposure Launch the new Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) as a one-stop career and employment support centre

What the Economic Strategy Review Means for Businesses and Organisations

Economic Strategy Review - Helping Businesses

Helping businesses seize new opportunities in a changed world

Businesses’ Concerns	Singapore’s Action Plan
Goal 1: Deepen capabilities and invest in emerging areas
How does Singapore plan to stay competitive and grow new industries?	Attract and anchor leading industries Accelerate firms’ operational transformations to be best-in-class Embed investments firmly into our ecosystem Invest in emerging technologies like quantum and space Expand into trust-based services like cybersecurity and AI governance
Goal 2: Position Singapore as a trusted hub for AI solutions
How will Singapore leverage AI to build an economic advantage?	Make Singapore a choice location for AI companies and talent Support leading firms to transform operations using AI Help SMEs adopt AI
Goal 3: Move from a pass-through hub to one that orchestrates global flows
How will Singapore stay relevant as a global hub?	Expand and upgrade our ports and airports Capture more value from facilitating flows Build leadership in cross-border data flows Develop capabilities in new energy areas like hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels
Goal 4: Make it easier to start, grow, go global and restructure
How will Singapore support businesses to start, grow and go global?	Expand access to growth capital and strengthen support for startups Anchor and support new high-potential companies Strengthen support for Singapore-based firms to internationalise Support firms to restructure and transition more smoothly
Goal 5: Build resilience at both national and enterprise level
How will businesses in Singapore be protected from global shocks and events?	Diversify energy supply sources and build strategic reserves Prepare for a low-carbon and climate-resilient future Support industries to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities Expand trusted trade partnerships to keep essential goods flowing

What Happens After the Economic Strategy Review Final Recommendations?

The eight thrusts work together as one strategy and every recommendation comes back to one vision: a Singapore that stays competitive and resilient in a changed world, and one that continues to create good jobs and opportunities for our people.

The task ahead is to translate these directions into action. This will require close partnership between Government, businesses, unions and workers. If we act together, with focus and discipline, Singapore can continue to grow, create good jobs, and remain competitive in a changed world.