Question
Dr Tan Wu Meng: To ask 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.
Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong
1. 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 AI.
2. 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.
3. 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 (CCPs) to help employers redesign jobs to use AI to improve productivity, and workers to upskill and reskill to take on AI-augmented roles. IMDA also appointed five training partners under the Information and Communications JTM in September. As of December, they have trained about 1,600 people to be confident AI users through some 200 AI-related courses.
4. 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.
5. 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.