Singapore won’t run out of jobs, says Minister for Trade and Industry
- Daniel Teo
- Topics: Asia-Pacific, Home Page - News, Job Cuts, News, Recruitment, Singapore, Southeast Asia
Singaporeans do not have to worry as the country has 3.5 million jobs for 2.5 million locals, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said.
Chan was speaking at the Singapore Summit on September 18, which is a forum that brings together thought leaders to discuss global trends. It was held virtually from September 14 to 17.
He added that the Singapore government’s focus is to keep workers at the “forefront of technology to seize new opportunities, looking for tomorrow’s jobs rather than just hoping that yesterday’s jobs will come back once again.”
READ: Worst yet to come for Singapore as more layoffs expected
Speaking at a panel on digital connectivity, Chan explained that digitalisation has caused a paradigm shift where “competition is getting tougher for white-collar jobs that can be done over the internet”.
He also said that such jobs would no longer have the “geographical insulation” that they used to have, as these jobs become much more competitive and connected playing field across the entire world.
And Chan reiterated the government’s commitment to equip Singaporeans, especially those that have been displaced by digitalisation and automation, with new skills so that they can move on to the new economy.
