New report warns Singaporeans at risk of falling behind AI revolution
Singapore's workforce risks falling behind its neighbours in Southeast Asia when it comes to staying relevant in the wake of a widespread AI push across organisations, according to a new report.
The research, released by Jobstreet by SEEK, issued the warning as it noted that only 53% of Singaporeans are willing to reskill to keep pace with the evolving roles in the era of AI.
In fact, only 41% of Singaporean talent said they would only consider reskilling if absolutely necessary.
The statistics are much lower than the average reported in Southeast Asia, where 63% said they want to reskill to stay relevant in the age of AI.
"AI's impact is undeniable, and it is essential for both individuals and employers in Singapore to start taking proactive steps in reskilling and future-proofing our workforce," said Vic Sithasanan, Acting Managing Director, Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore, in a statement.
Reluctance to reskill
The reluctance to reskill comes despite the growing use of AI in Singapore, where 60% have tried to use generative AI at work and 43% are utilising the tech monthly.
It also comes despite 22% of Singaporean talent expecting a major impact that will eliminate or transform their jobs significantly.
According to the report, local talent in Singapore is put off from fully using GenAI due to difficulties in writing prompts and a lack of skill.
But when asked about what skills Singaporeans are focusing on, the report discovered that only 22% are focusing on advanced digital skills and only 19% are focusing on understanding new trends.
Instead, Singapore's local workforce is revealed to be more concentrated on traditional skills, such as analytical skills (46%), functional and job-specific skills (35%), as well as project management skills (27%).
Guidance needed on reskilling
To address the reskilling problem, Sithasanan underscored the role of employers in supporting their workforce's transition to AI.
This comes as 51% of Singaporeans want more guidance on what skills to learn, while 36% said they need more employer support in adopting GenAI in the workplace.
"Without this ongoing support and drive to reskill, local talent will struggle to adapt professionally in the evolving AI landscape," Sithasanan said.