Singapore lags behind in gen AI adoption

Source: Jobstreet by SEEK infographic. How talent in Singapore use gen AI. The majority use it as a 'colleague'.

Singaporeans might not be keeping pace with the global push toward generative AI (gen AI) adoption, as revealed by the Decoding Global Talent 2024 report, said Jobstreet by SEEK. Slightly over half (53%) of Singaporean talent are willing to reskill to stay relevant in the AI era, lower than the 63% recorded across Southeast Asia.

Overall, Singaporean talent would consider reskilling only if necessary (41%), compared to their counterparts in Southeast Asia (32%). These insights are from a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), The Network, of which Jobstreet by SEEK is a part of, and The Stepstone Group. The study is based on survey data from more than 150,000 respondents in the workforce, and spans 188 countries.

The report revealed that while 60% of Singaporean talent have tried gen AI in their work or personal life, only 43% of Singaporean talent use it monthly – similar with Southeast Asia’s 44% average. While the high adoption rate can be attributed to Singapore’s National AI Strategy (NAIS 2.0), four in 10 Singaporean talent still remain unfamiliar with gen AI’s capabilities.

Talent in Singapore also have concerns about the effects of gen AI with regards to job security and displacement of roles, with only 19% believing gen AI will not affect their job. Further, 22% of Singaporean talent also expect major impacts that will eliminate or transform their jobs significantly, slightly lower compared to the regional figure of 29%.

However, gen AI’s ability to reduce non-essential tasks (60%) and improve work quality (45%) is widely recognised by Singaporean talent as its biggest benefits – although its use for meeting deadlines and improving speed remains underutilised (32%). This lags behind both their Southeast Asian (44%) and global peers (45%).

Despite an interest in using gen AI, challenges such as difficulty in writing prompts and having a lack of skills are putting off local talent from fully leveraging gen AI’s capabilities, with 37% citing this as a significant roadblock. This figure is notably higher than the regional average of 33% and the global average of 30%, suggesting that Singaporean workers lack the necessary skills or support in utilising gen AI.

When it comes to reskilling, Singaporean talent appears more focused on traditional skills, namely improving analytical skills (46%), functional and job-specific skills (35%), and project management (27%). Meanwhile, advanced digital skills (like software development and AI) and understanding new trends (such as AI, or advancements in science) rank much lower in priority, at 22% and 19% respectively.

“AI's impact is undeniable, and it is essential for both individuals and employers in Singapore to start taking proactive steps in reskilling and futureproofing our workforce,” said Vic Sithasanan, Acting MD, Jobstreet by SEEK in Singapore.

“The Decoding Global Talent 2024 report has shown a pressing need for more Singaporeans to actively engage and build the skills needed in today's evolving AI-driven economy. Employers also play a crucial role in bridging this gap by offering clear guidance and accessible learning opportunities, as aligned with Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 strategy. Without this ongoing support and drive to reskill, local talent will struggle to adapt professionally in the evolving AI landscape."

The report found that 51% of Singaporean talent expressed a need for more guidance on what skills to learn, while 46% highlighted the need for better learning courses. Furthermore, 36% pointed to the need for more employer support in adopting gen AI in the workplace.

These findings reveal an opportunity for Singaporean employers to bridge the gen AI skills gap by offering targeted training and raising awareness of the specific skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven future.

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*BCG, The Network (together with its affiliate organisations), and The Stepstone Group conducted this anonymous, online survey from October through December 2023. All told, 150,735 people in 188 countries participated.

The survey elicited workers’ attitudes on various topics, including their willingness to move abroad for work, the countries they would most like to work in, their reasons for choosing those countries, and their expectations of their future employers in a new country. The data gathered in the survey (including a wide range of information on participants’ demographic and professional backgrounds) made it possible to analyse workers’ attitudes on the basis of multiple parameters. BCG also conducted followup interviews with select study participants around the world—many of whom were interviewed before and have been followed for several years.