Written Answer · 2024-08-07 · Parliament 14
Updating Industry Transformation Maps to Consider AI Impact on Skilled Work Training
An MP asked whether Industry Transformation Maps will be updated to factor in AI's impact on skills training, and whether Training Continuity Maps should be set up to safeguard deep-skill talent. The government replied that 23 ITMs have been refreshed, Jobs Transformation Maps have been launched to support job redesign and reskilling, and multiple AI-related training programmes are running. It emphasised using government-industry collaboration to lift Singaporeans' AI skills and drive employment transition. The core debate: how to balance AI substitution with cultivation of deep-skill talent.
Key Points
- • ITMs dynamically updated
- • JTMs support reskilling
- • Multi-party push on AI training
Actively pushes AI skills training and job transformation.
Focuses on safeguarding deep-skill talent development.
Strengthen AI skills training and employment transition.
"ITMs are dynamic plans that respond to changes in the operating environment, such as the emergence of potentially disruptive technologies."
Participants (2)
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-05-02
3 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the existing Industry Transformation Maps can be updated to consider the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the apprenticeship and on-the-job training aspects of skilled work; and (b) whether this update can include Industry Training Continuity Maps to maintain a training pipeline for deeply skilled human workers who cannot be replaced by AI, even when AI can undertake work previously done by less deeply skilled apprentices and trainees.
Mr Gan Kim Yong : The 23 Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) were refreshed over the last two years and the proposed initiatives are being implemented. ITMs are dynamic plans that respond to changes in the operating environment, such as the emergence of potentially disruptive technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence (AI).
To complement the ITMs, we developed Jobs Transformation Maps (JTMs), which help employers and workers better understand how jobs are evolving and how they can redesign jobs and reskill.
As of April 2024, 17 JTMs have been published by various Government agencies, with three more in the pipeline. The agencies carefully study the impact of AI on jobs and develop measures to support workforce transformation. For instance, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) funded courses and Workforce Singapore offered Career Conversion Programmes to help employers redesign jobs to use AI to improve productivity and workers to upskill and reskill to take on AI-augmented roles. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) also appointed five training partners under the Information and Communications JTM in September 2023. As of December 2023, they have trained about 1,600 people to be confident AI users through some 200 AI-related courses.
This year's Budget also provided a top-up to SkillsFuture Credits and the Level-Up Programme for mid-career Singaporeans looking to reskill through full-time diploma programmes. IMDA will work with SSG to ensure there are suitable training programmes to help more Singaporeans gain AI-proficiency, so Singaporeans can benefit from the opportunities brought about by the emergence of AI technology.
More companies have also stepped up their involvement in AI training. For example, Oracle recently announced plans to provide free training in AI for students and professionals in Singapore over the next three years. Amazon Web Services, in collaboration with our polytechnics, also aims to train more than 3,800 students and professionals in generative AI skills, over the next three years, through internships and work-study programmes.