Upskilling of workforce now more urgent as society ages and tech advances: Panellists

Technological trends such as artificial intelligence have accelerated the need to equip Singapore's workforce for the future, say panellists at a roundtable organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times.

- Cheow Sue-Ann

Reskilling and upskilling have long been national priorities for Singapore, but with a rapidly ageing society, the need to equip the workforce for the future has become more urgent than ever.

During a roundtable discussion jointly organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times on March 7, the panellists, including Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah, discussed factors such as technological changes that have accelerated the need for an updated workforce in Singapore.

Moderated by ST associate editor Vikram Khanna, the UOB-sponsored discussion, titled Singapore Levels Up, sought to discuss how Singaporean workers and businesses can upskill and upgrade to stay relevant and competitive amid a changing economic landscape.

The panel also featured UOB senior economist Alvin Liew; Mr Ang Yuit, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises; and Mr Desmond Tan, deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

Ms Indranee said emerging areas like digitalisation, sustainability and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI) have advanced quickly over the past 10 years.

"These are all things that both employers and employees have to grapple with. And hence the need to upskill, learn new and diverse skills has accelerated," she said.

With such changes taking place, workers are also feeling the pressure, and some may have concerns about job security.

Mr Tan said: "We did an economic sentiment survey just before the Budget with about 2,000 respondents, asking them how AI and sustainability are affecting them and their sense of security in their jobs."

The results of the survey revealed that about 15 per cent are worried about job losses due to AI, while more than 50 per cent felt they may keep their jobs, but that the job scopes would change.