Singapore cannot assume economic growth will create as many jobs amid AI shift: Gan Kim Yong
The Republic must also become harder to replace as global economy grows more contested and fragmented
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong warned that the country cannot assume economic growth will automatically create as many jobs as artificial intelligence and automation transform work. While AI may enable firms to produce more with fewer workers and create new tasks and roles, it could also change, shrink, or eliminate existing ones.
However, Gan emphasized that alarmism is unnecessary, as this transition is unlikely to lead to immediate, economy-wide job losses. He stressed the importance of managing the AI transition well, focusing on job redesign, training, and worker outcomes. Singapore must identify roles potentially exposed to AI early and create "effective career bridges" into other work that builds on workers' existing skills.
The broader system must respond faster to support workers affected by disruption, requiring collaboration between employers, training institutions, unions, and government. Not all roles will be replaced by AI, as care, allied health, early childhood education, skilled trades, and essential services will continue to offer good job opportunities.
However, productivity, job design, and career progression in these roles should also be improved to support better wages. Singapore must rethink its competitiveness in a global environment where decisions are increasingly influenced by national security and domestic politics. To remain relevant, Singapore must concentrate on areas where it can build hard-to-replicate advantages and become integral to companies' supply chains and operations, deepening its capabilities in high-value manufacturing and trusted services.
Written by urgent.news from The Business Times - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
