Singapore to build AI-fluent workforce

29 September 2025

On 29 August 2025, the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore (“IMDA”) announced efforts to build an Artificial Intelligence-fluent (“AI-fluent”) workforce to support Singapore’s growing digital economy. This includes looking at upskilling tech workers and equipping non-tech workers in horizontal occupations with essential AI capabilities and knowledge to boost productivity. This broad-based approach aims to create a future-ready workforce capable of leveraging AI effectively across different job functions and industries.

As stated by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong in his National Day Rally 2025 speech, Singapore is entering a new era powered by AI which is transforming the way people live, work, and do business. Singapore will keep people at the centre of this transformation and ensure that AI does not replace jobs, but creates better, safer, and more rewarding jobs.

According to a survey conducted for IMDA’s annual Singapore Digital Economy (SGDE) report (to be published in October 2025), among the workers surveyed, three in four are regularly using AI tools. Of these, 85% said AI makes them more efficient through saving time, boosting productivity, and improving work quality. In another survey with employers, more than two-thirds of companies already using AI plan to prioritise the training and upskilling of their existing workforce.

IMDA will work with companies to provide both tech and non-tech workers with training to use AI tools to boost productivity. Employees will be given practical, hands-on experience in applying AI to their daily work. IMDA, through TechSkills Accelerator (“TeSA”), will work with professional bodies to upskill non-tech professionals in becoming fluent users of AI in their occupations like accounting and marketing, so they can transform key workflows with AI. These efforts seek to raise productivity and free up bandwidth for workers to focus on higher value tasks and complex decision-making that require human judgement and expertise. IMDA will also accelerate TeSA efforts to enable tech workers to remain relevant and harness the potential of AI, so that they can be uplifted to work across the software value chain.

IMDA will also partner with the Singapore Computer Society and SkillsFuture Singapore for the launch of the Skills Pathway for Cloud, an initiative to develop professionals in cloud capabilities and provide a structured route for individuals to attain industry-recognised certifications that will enhance their career prospects.

Reference materials

The press release is available on the IMDA website www.imda.gov.sg.