NTUC’s Push to Embrace the “Two AIs” to Secure Singapore’s Workforce

Singapore is at a crossroads, navigating two significant and simultaneous shifts: the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the increasing number of Ageing Individuals (AI). According to NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan, we can either learn to ride these two waves or risk being swept away. Outlining how ageing and AI should not be mutually exclusive, the real opportunity lies in bringing these two “AIs” together to create a smarter, more inclusive, and future-ready workforce:

Empowering Senior Workers in an AI-Driven World

While Singapore has made progress in supporting senior workers—by raising CPF contribution rates and re-employment ages—more needs to be done. A recent NTUC survey reveals that only 43% of senior workers aged 55 and above feel there are enough good jobs for them. They also face longer periods of unemployment, with job searches lasting an average of 6.2 months. Common issues include ageism in hiring, inadequate medical support, and a lack of flexible work options.

However, aging should be seen as a strength, not a liability. Desmond Tan emphasised that older individuals often make more rational decisions and have better judgment due to their vast experience. Employers must recognise that this expertise is a strategic asset for their businesses.

To address these challenges, NTUC and its partners are committed to ensuring senior workers have fair access to training, real choices, flexibility, and dignity at work. The Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment is actively working on practical solutions to help three main groups of senior workers: those who want to work longer, those who want to work flexibly, and those who need targeted support to re-enter the workforce.

Driving Transformation through Collaboration

The NTUC is using its Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant initiative to actively partner with companies, pushing them to adopt AI responsibly—not to replace workers, but to augment them. Desmond Tan points to the success of the CTC Grant, which helps companies like SBS Transit use AI to improve productivity and create higher-value roles for workers.

Mazri Bin Masrah, a 52-year-old bus technician, is a great example. With the right support and training, he successfully transitioned from a driver to a Diagnostic Expert, using AI-powered tools to boost his productivity. Similarly, Ms. Ng Yuen Jiuan, a key staff member at the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute, embraced a new AI research assistant in her late 60s. She used her decades of experience to check the AI’s accuracy and mentor her younger colleagues. These stories highlight how multi-generational teams can collaborate to drive innovation and achieve stronger results.

The Tripartite Call to Action: Invest, Embrace, and Unify

To build a future-ready workforce, Desmond Tan delivered a clear call to action to all key groups:

• To employers: He urged them to invest in older workers, emphasizing that they shouldn’t choose between age and AI. Instead, he argued that embracing both brings immense value to a business.
• To senior workers: He encouraged them to be bold and embrace technology, and to learn and apply themselves in the new AI economy.
• To the government: He called for the support of a new initiative, “AI-Ready SG.” This one-stop platform would integrate resources from all partners to help workers and businesses bridge the AI gap.

Desmond Tan urges the government to create a unified, easily accessible initiative that combines all the resources from the tripartite partners (government, unions, and employers) to help workers and businesses navigate the AI revolution.

Concluding with a profound question: What will we do with the time that AI gives back to us? Desmond Tan expressed his hope that this newfound productivity won’t just lead to doing more work. Instead, he envisions a future where technology, guided by human wisdom, allows us to live more balanced lives. It’s a future where we can spend more time with family, pursue our passions, and cherish moments with loved ones.

This vision is perfectly captured in his final message: “有 AI，有爱，就有未来”, which means “Because with AI and love, there is a future for all.” It’s a reminder that true progress is not just about technological advancement but about using that progress to build a more compassionate and fulfilling society.