When it comes to the President’s Address, many Singaporeans might not know that it’s a speech prepared by the elected government, not written personally by the President. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s inaugural address on September 5, 2025, kicked off the new term for the 15th Parliament and laid out the government’s plans.
A Strong Economy is Key
President Tharman emphasised that a strong economy is crucial for Singapore’s future and to improve lives. He highlighted that while Singapore is small, it can compete with its speed, ingenuity, and trustworthiness. In a world full of fragmentation and uncertainty, Singapore aims to remain a “safe harbour” and a reliable hub for trade, capital, and talent. To do this, we can no longer rely on the “old playbook” and must adapt faster and innovate boldly.
Navigating the Age of AI
The address also highlighted the government’s priorities for navigating the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is seen as a “real game changer”. The government’s strategy is to use technology and AI to unlock new economic growth while ensuring it’s inclusive and benefits everyone.
Instead of rushing headlong, Singapore’s approach is to move quickly by leveraging the trust built through years of tripartism—a partnership between the government, employers, and unions like the NTUC. The goal isn’t to replace workers but to use AI to “complement human abilities” and boost productivity. The government will work closely with unions to redesign jobs and retrain workers, ensuring that as technology is adopted, people can move into higher-value roles.
During the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also reassured Singaporeans that the government will continue to prioritize jobs for its citizens and will work with unions to redesign jobs and help workers. The anxiety around AI is real, especially for younger professionals and those in service or creative roles who worry about being replaced by machines.
Government and NTUC Initiatives
Singapore has been proactive in preparing for economic changes. Through schemes like SkillsFuture, workers are encouraged and funded to continually upgrade their skills. There have been new initiatives rolled out to support workers:
- GRIT (GRraduate Industry Traineeships): A new government-funded traineeship scheme offering up to 800 positions with a monthly allowance of $1,800 to $2,400 to help fresh graduates gain professional experience.
- SkillsFuture Level Up Programme: Now allows mid-career professionals aged 40 and above to claim training allowances for part-time courses and provides a $4,000 top-up in SkillsFuture credits.
- NTUC’s Company Training Committee (CTC): A key NTUC initiative where unions, employers, and workers collaborate to develop transformation plans that improve business outcomes and help workers upskill and receive better wages.
- Jobs Nearby @ CDC: A new job-matching scheme that uses jobs ambassadors at Community Clubs to provide customized assistance and match job seekers with roles closer to home. This scheme, which started in the South West District, is set to be rolled out across other Community Development Councils (CDCs) by October.
- NTUC Initiatives: NTUC has stepped up with programs like the NTUC Youth Excel Programme and the NTUC Starter Membership, offering career support and financial literacy workshops. The Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) provides increased funding for youths and older workers to help them with their upskilling efforts.
How Jobs Are Evolving
The reality of AI is that jobs will evolve. AI automates repetitive tasks, freeing people to focus on higher-value work that uses uniquely human qualities like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. AI is already changing the way we work in Singapore. For example, at Tuas Port, crane operators have become remote supervisors, overseeing operations with greater safety and efficiency. In government call centres, AI transcribes and summarizes calls, but human staff still handle complex problem-solving and provide empathy. In healthcare, AI helps analyze X-rays, but dentists still make the final diagnosis.
What Workers Must Do
No matter how strong the support system is, individuals must also do their part. Upskilling is the foundation of career resilience. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to become a software engineer; it’s about staying curious and being willing to use new tools rather than fearing them. Workers who embrace lifelong learning and cultivate human skills like communication and teamwork will find themselves more in demand.
The real challenge with AI isn’t whether jobs will disappear, but whether workers can adapt fast enough to seize the new opportunities being created. With help and resources readily available, Singaporeans can face the future with resilience.
