When AI makes it harder for fresh grads to get jobs, who bridges the gap?
What happens when AI changes the rules of the game?
In the rapidly evolving tech industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly taking over junior-level responsibilities. Young professionals in the sector have faced challenges such as slower hiring and a preference for experienced candidates. To address this issue, Tan Kiat How, Lim Bee Kwan, and Gavin Chua discuss the responsibility of bridging the gap between junior and experienced professionals.
Tan Kiat How is a Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Lim Bee Kwan is the president of the Singapore Computer Society, and Gavin Chua is the chairman of SGTech. AI has the potential to write software, build applications, and help small teams achieve results that previously required larger teams.
However, this advancement has also led to anxiety among fresh graduates who are witnessing restructuring and changing entry-level roles, as well as headlines about job applications going unanswered. While Singapore's technology workforce grew by 3.8% in 2025 to over 222,000, AI fluency, domain understanding, and practical judgement are essential for a career in technology.
A growing profession does not always guarantee an easier entry, as AI can enable smaller teams to complete tasks faster, even as employers seek new hires with earlier contributions. Strong technical foundations, AI fluency, domain understanding, and practical judgement are crucial. Stanford University's Digital Economy Lab found weaker employment trends among young U.S. workers in AI-exposed occupations, while India's IT sector also reported reduced graduate recruitment and a preference for experienced talent.
These trends serve as warning signs rather than definitive proof of AI's impact on Singapore's labor market. The challenge lies in ensuring that junior engineers learn through writing simpler programs, making mistakes, and receiving guidance from experienced colleagues. AI can now assist with many of these tasks, raising questions about how tomorrow's professionals will gain experience and judgement.
The TIP Alliance+ is working towards a solution by bringing together education institutions, employers, industry associations, and government agencies. The partnership aims to evolve three key aspects: what students learn, how they gain experience, and how employers recognize their capabilities. Key changes include industry-led skills pathways in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity, bridging apprenticeships into the curriculum through Bridge2Tech, and strengthening the connection between education and industry.
Enhanced internships, lasting 10 to 12 months, provide students with meaningful work experience, mentorship, and feedback from experienced professionals. Employers have shown a strong willingness to continue offering these internships and hire interns if suitable vacancies arise. However, the success of these initiatives depends on collaboration and commitment from all parties involved.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
