Fixing the ‘bottom rung’: S’pore fresh grads urged to use, critique AI to get a leg-up in employment

Singapore's junior software developers are now expected to act as critical gatekeepers for auditing AI-generated drafts, according to recent developments. With the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence, employers across various sectors are demanding more than just entry-level workers who can produce basic software code or marketing scripts.

Business associations, schools, and manpower groups have informed The Straits Times of this shift in expectations. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has also expressed concerns about the "bottom rung" of the career ladder being affected by AI and urged employers to invest in training and mentoring for junior hires.

Although employers are still keen on hiring fresh graduates, those with prior industry experience and knowledge of AI tools will have an advantage. Kok Ping Soon, the CEO of the Singapore Business Federation, emphasized that graduates will spend more time applying judgment, engaging clients, solving cross-functional problems, and checking the quality of AI-generated work.

Linda Teo, the country manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore, noted that junior finance executives were previously responsible for consolidating spreadsheet data and checking transactions for inconsistencies. Now, AI tools can assist with these tasks, but someone still needs to verify the accuracy, investigate discrepancies, understand the business context, and determine appropriate actions.

Similarly, marketing executives can use AI tools to speed up tasks such as drafting social copies and writing reports. They are now expected to review AI-generated copies, analyze audience data using AI, develop campaign concepts, and assess the results to refine their recommendations. Qualities such as communication, creativity, empathy, and accountability will become increasingly important as AI advances.

Kok Ping Soon urged young people to gain practical experience through internships, apprenticeships, and part-time work to develop these essential skills.

To help students gain more sustained work experience, longer internships and workplace attachments are becoming more common. Over the next three years, 3,000 tertiary students are expected to participate in year-long internships through a program led by the Infocomm Media Development Authority. Additionally, the Singapore Institute of Technology introduced a new "2+2" learning model, allowing select students to spend nearly half of their four-year degree program attached to a workplace.

Susanna Leong, SIT's deputy president (academic) and provost, highlighted the importance of integrating into workplace teams, tackling authentic problems, receiving sustained feedback, and taking on more complex responsibilities.

Polytechnics and universities have also updated their curriculum to ensure students have a solid grasp of applying AI knowledge to domain-specific tasks. For instance, at the National University of Singapore (NUS), all students across disciplines now undergo foundational AI modules, learning how to draft contractual clauses and evaluate AI-generated critiques.

Business students use AI-powered simulations to practice negotiations and sharpen decision-making skills. Such approaches aim to help students develop core competencies while learning to utilize AI effectively and thoughtfully.

Despite these efforts, graduates still face challenges in securing their first job. Prasanthi Guda, director of SMU's Dato’ Kho Hui Meng Career Centre, pointed to factors such as geopolitical uncertainties, broader economic conditions, and adjustments to post-pandemic hiring levels, as well as the growing adoption of AI, as reasons for the more cautious hiring outlook.

According to a 2026 survey by ManpowerGroup involving 651 firms in Singapore, the information and utilities sectors were among the hardest hit by these challenges.