AI's Impact on Employment Still Unclear, But Job Seekers Urged to Continue Upskilling

Stay open to different roles to remain competitive in labour market, experts say

- Timothy Goh

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs remains uncertain, but job seekers should continue upgrading their skills and stay open to different roles to remain competitive in a labour market shaped by global uncertainties.

This was the main thrust of a discussion with a panel of experts on Sept 6.

Mr Brandon Lee, assistant chief executive of Workforce Singapore's transformation support group, and one of two panellists, told the event: "It is still not very clear yet, but there are still many things to look at before you condemn yourself."

He noted that Singapore is grappling with a mix of challenges including tariffs, global conflicts, post-Covid-19 over-hiring and heavy corporate spending on the still-nascent field of AI.

But the economy has remained resilient and jobs are still available, he said, adding that there are about 60,000 openings on Workforce Singapore's MyCareersFuture portal, including around 8,000 entry-level positions and about 2,400 roles in the public service.

"Spend the time and effort to figure out what works in the AI space and use it for helping you to get on in your career," said Mr Lee.