Written Answer · 2026-08-04 · Parliament 15
Companies that Have Adopted AI and Their Experienced Outcomes in Areas Such As Job Redesign, Creation of New Roles and Changes to Use of Contract Staff
Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in a written question for a breakdown by firm size of companies that have adopted artificial intelligence and the outcomes they experienced, such as job redesign, creation of or redeployment to new roles, lowered hiring, changes in the use of contract workers or reduced headcount. Acting Minister Jasmin Lau replied that AI adoption in Singapore is uneven, with larger firms more likely to adopt. In 2026, 27.2% of smaller firms with fewer than 200 employees had adopted AI, compared with 54.8% of mid-sized firms with 200 to 500 employees and 76.4% of larger firms with more than 500 employees, reflecting the greater capacity of large firms to invest in and deploy AI in their operations. Based on the Ministry of Manpower's survey findings, AI-adopting firms reported workforce outcomes such as job redesign, creation of new AI-related jobs and redeployment of workers, rather than reductions in employment; larger firms were more likely to report these outcomes than smaller firms. The Government will continue to monitor AI adoption and its impact so as to support businesses and workers in adopting AI in a way that creates good jobs and new opportunities. The reply gave no figures on lowered hiring, contract-worker changes or headcount reductions.
Why it matters
MOM's 2026 data show 76.4% of firms with over 500 employees have adopted AI against 27.2% of those under 200, so AI's gains are splitting by firm size.
Key Points
- • AI adoption in 2026 splits by size: 27.2% of firms under 200 employees, 54.8% of firms with 200 to 500, and 76.4% of firms above 500
- • MOM's survey found AI-adopting firms reported job redesign, new AI-related jobs and redeployment of workers rather than reductions in employment
- • Larger firms were more likely than smaller ones to report these workforce outcomes, reflecting their greater capacity to invest in and deploy AI
- • The Government will keep monitoring AI adoption and its impact; the reply gave no figures on lowered hiring, contract-worker changes or headcount cuts
The Ministry of Manpower's reading is that AI in Singapore firms is so far producing job redesign and new roles rather than layoffs, and that the adoption gap is mainly a gap in firm size and investment capacity. The Government casts its role as continued monitoring and helping businesses and workers adopt AI in a way that creates good jobs, without announcing new measures to lift adoption among smaller firms.
Questioner Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari sought an outcome breakdown by firm size that included the negative results — lowered hiring, changes in contract-worker use and reduced headcount — to see AI's real effect on workers at firms of different sizes; the reply supplied adoption rates and a qualitative conclusion but no numbers on those negative outcomes.
This is the first time the Ministry of Manpower has given Parliament AI adoption rates broken down by firm size (27.2% / 54.8% / 76.4%), and it sets the official narrative as "AI reshapes jobs rather than cutting them". Two signals follow: the Government holds firm-level AI adoption survey data and will keep tracking it; and adoption among smaller firms is under half that of large firms, so both the gains and the workforce risks of AI transformation sit with large companies, leaving room for later SME-focused AI support measures.
"Based on the Ministry of Manpower's survey findings, AI-adopting firms reported workforce outcomes, such as job redesign, creation of new AI-related jobs and redeployment of workers, rather than reductions in employment."
Participants (2)
- Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari
- Jasmin Lau
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-09-04
64 Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari asked the Acting Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry can provide a breakdown by firm size of companies that have adopted artificial intelligence (AI) and their experienced outcomes, such as job redesign, creation or redeployment to new roles, lowered hiring, changes in use of contract workers or reduced headcount.
Ms Jasmin Lau : Currently, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in Singapore is uneven, with larger firms more likely to be adopters. In 2026, 27.2% of smaller firms with fewer than 200 employees adopted AI, compared to 54.8% of mid-sized firms with 200 to 500 employees, and 76.4% of larger firms with more than 500 employees. This generally reflects the greater capacity of larger firms to invest in and deploy AI in their operations.
Based on the Ministry of Manpower's survey findings, AI-adopting firms reported workforce outcomes, such as job redesign, creation of new AI-related jobs and redeployment of workers, rather than reductions in employment. Larger firms were more likely to report these outcomes than smaller firms. The Government will continue to monitor the adoption of AI and its impact, so that we can better support our businesses and workers to adopt AI in a way that create good jobs and new opportunities for Singaporeans.