Singapore – Only 53% of Singaporeans are willing to reskill amidst the generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) era to stay relevant in the industry, a report found. The report comes from Boston Consulting Group, The Network, which comprises Jobstreet by SEEK, and The Stepstone Group.
According to the report, the number of Singaporeans willing to adapt and maintain relevance amidst the spread of GenAI use lags behind the 63% recorded in Southeast Asia.
41% of Singaporeans would only reskill if necessary, showing further reluctance while GenAI professional use is becoming more prevalent.
Additionally, enhancing digital skills and understanding technological trends ranks low in Singaporeans’ priorities. They have reported to be prioritising traditional skills such as analytical skills (46%) and job-specific skills (35%).
While 43% of Singaporean talents use GenAI monthly, 40% reported that they are still unfamiliar with its capabilities. While Singaporeans acknowledge GenAI’s potential to reduce non-essential tasks (60%) and enhance work quality (45%), its usage for meeting deadlines and accelerating work (32%) remains lower compared to the region (44%) and globally (45%).
Some Singaporeans are concerned with the elimination or transformation of their jobs due to AI (22%) while 19% believe that their jobs will remain unaffected.
One of the challenges they are facing in embracing GenAI is the difficulty of writing effective prompts and relevant skills (37%), which is higher than the regional (33%) and global average (30%).
Nonetheless, 51% of Singaporeans have expressed their desire for guidance in learning skills associated with AI, while 46% emphasised the need for improved learning courses. 36% cited the need for employer support for GenAI adoption in the workplace.
“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,” Vic Sithasanan, acting managing director at Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore, said.
“The Decoding Global Talent 2024 report has shown a pressing need for more Singaporeans to actively engage and build the skills needed in today’s evolving AI-driven economy. Employers also play a crucial role in bridging this gap by offering clear guidance and accessible learning opportunities, as aligned with Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 strategy. Without this ongoing support and drive to reskill, local talent will struggle to adapt professionally in the evolving AI landscape,” Sithasanan added.
