AI Demand Doubles Across Sectors, But Core Skills Remain Vital
Singapore’s employers are increasingly prioritizing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, with demand across sectors more than doubling from 2022 to 2025. Yet officials from SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) emphasize that while the AI landscape is expanding rapidly, fundamental skills remain crucial for successful adoption and implementation.
According to an update released by SSG on January 27, the surge in demand reflects a broad push toward AI-driven efficiency, decision-making, and innovation. Companies across industries—from manufacturing to services and information technology—are investing in AI literacy, tooling, and project capabilities to stay competitive in a data-driven economy. However, the agency stresses that a strong foundation in core competencies is indispensable to translate AI concepts into tangible results.
Which AI Skills Are in Demand?
The SSG briefing highlights several key areas where AI knowledge is increasingly valued. At the forefront are AI principles, ethics, governance, and risk assessment—ensuring that AI deployments align with regulatory requirements and societal expectations. Beyond principles, practical abilities such as model selection, data preprocessing, and performance evaluation are essential to build reliable AI solutions.
Data literacy is another critical pillar. As organizations collect more information, the capacity to clean, interpret, and derive actionable insights from data remains foundational. In tandem, programming and software development skills related to AI frameworks, scripting, and automation support the deployment and maintenance of AI systems in real-world settings.
Why Core Skills Continue to Matter
Even as AI becomes more pervasive, SSG notes that non-technical roles will still benefit from AI awareness and collaboration with data scientists and engineers. Core skills—problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, project management, and collaboration—serve as the bridge between AI concepts and business value.
SSG’s stance mirrors global trends where AI adoption fails when there is a gap between technical capabilities and organizational readiness. Employers are increasingly seeking talent who can translate analytics into strategy, interpret model outputs for decision-makers, and ensure ethical and compliant use of AI technologies.
What This Means for Singapore’s Workforce
For Singapore’s workforce, the message is clear: invest in AI capability building while reinforcing core professional competencies. Government and industry initiatives—such as upskilling programs and targeted training—aim to equip workers with both specialized AI skills and transferable competencies. This balanced approach is designed to foster resilience in the job market and enable workers to participate in more complex, AI-enabled roles.
Businesses are encouraged to adopt a phased strategy that blends learning with practical application. Short courses on AI fundamentals can prepare employees to participate in AI pilot projects, while longer, structured programs can develop specialists who can design and manage end-to-end AI solutions. The emphasis is on creating a workforce that can adapt to evolving technologies without sacrificing foundational capabilities.
Implications for Employers and Learners
Employers should consider integrating AI training into broader workforce development plans, aligning learning outcomes with organizational goals. Providing hands-on opportunities—such as data projects, cross-functional teams, and mentorship—can accelerate the transfer of AI knowledge into business impact.
Learners, including students and mid-career professionals, should pursue a mix of AI-focused courses and general professional development. Building expertise in data ethics, governance, and cross-disciplinary collaboration will help individuals navigate the complexities of deploying AI in real-world environments.
Looking Ahead
As AI capabilities continue to evolve, Singapore’s approach—centering both advanced technical skills and robust core competencies—appears well-positioned to sustain growth and innovation. Ongoing collaboration between the public sector, training providers, and industry will be essential to keep pace with developments while ensuring responsible and beneficial use of AI across sectors.
