Parliamentary Question: Employment Pathways for Singaporeans who are Unable to Transition into New Occupations with Accelerating AI Adoption

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in view of the accelerating adoption of AI and deployment of humanoid robots in workplaces, what new jobs and employment pathways are being developed for Singaporeans who, despite training and reskilling, may be unable to transition readily into new occupations, particularly older workers, lower-wage workers and persons with disabilities.

The Acting Minister for Manpower (Ms Jasmin Lau): The Government is committed to supporting workers as AI and automation transform jobs and businesses. So far, our surveys show that most firms that adopt AI are redesigning jobs or creating new roles rather than reducing headcount. Such roles may build on workers’ existing skills and experience, rather than requiring them to move to completely new occupations.

 For workers who may need to move into different roles, we are developing practical employment pathways into jobs with strong demand and good longer-term prospects. This includes opportunities in the essential and skilled trades, such as electrical work, or in the social and community care sector where demand is expected to remain strong even as technology adoption accelerates.

 These pathways are supported through career transition programmes, such as the Career Conversion Programmes and the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme. They allow workers to move into new roles while receiving structured training and career matching services. Older workers receive enhanced support under these programmes to facilitate their transition. Over the past five years, close to nine in 10 Career Conversion Programme participants aged 51 and above remain employed 24 months after embarking on the programme. 

For lower-wage workers, the Progressive Wage Model provides clear career pathways with wage growth, supported by industry-relevant training requirements. They can also tap on Workfare Skills Support to acquire skills that support their career progression.

 For persons with disabilities, the challenge is often about securing workplace support. Programmes, such as the Open Door Programme, support employers with job redesign, workplace adaptations and inclusive hiring practices, while providing persons with disabilities stronger employment support. The Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities is also reviewing how to strengthen support for employers to hire and retain persons with disabilities.

 As AI and automation efforts evolve, we will continue to monitor their impact on jobs, and work with employers, unions and training partners to develop practical pathways that help workers adapt, remain employable and access good jobs. 

Mr Speaker: Ms Phua.

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): I thank the Acting Minister for the comprehensive answer. Many of us read, actually with increasing alarm, daily news from countries like the People's Republic of China, where many are deploying humanoid robots. For example, in executing tasks with very fine motor skills, with intelligence. And this is at a speed much faster than before. So, the technology impact is actually quite alarming compared to the past.

And two, we have also heard many announcements by Government agencies and so on, that these issues about displacements of jobs, especially among the vulnerable, are being looked into. I wonder, can there be more efforts to show us the jobs. What are some of these tangible jobs that can engage the more vulnerable? Show us the examples. I heard, for instance, at an event that we both attended yesterday that in Punggol, the Singapore Institute of Technology, together with UOB, is looking at jobs where robots and humans are deployed for estate maintenance. This is exciting news.

I think that if more of the news can be spread and many on the ground who are interested can learn and scale, it will give more assurance to those who are vulnerable; not just persons with disabilities but those who are lower-skilled, who may not be suitable for the job conversions schemes. I think that will provide a lot more assurance.

Ms Jasmin Lau: I thank the Member for the suggestion. We will do better in sharing maybe case studies of how jobs have been redesigned to include AI within the jobs as well as new jobs that AI has created for our economy.