National Day Rally: More help for jobseekers with CDC job-matching, SkillsFuture tweaks
Even as Singapore looks to technology and innovation for growth, workers remain the focus, he said.
'Ultimately, our economic strategy is about jobs, jobs and jobs – that's our number one priority.'
To that end, the government is stepping up job-matching services, such as by having more career fairs in tertiary institutions.
A new job-matching initiative will be introduced 'at the town level', led by the Community Development Councils (CDCs), announced PM Wong.
As the CDCs have strong networks with local businesses and community partners, they are 'well-placed' to match jobseekers – particularly those who prefer working closer to home – with vacancies, he said. Details will be shared by respective mayors soon.
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Levelling up the SkillsFuture Level Up programme
The SkillsFuture Level Up programme for mid-career workers will also see two key enhancements.
This provides S$4,000 in SkillsFuture credits as well as training allowances of up to S$3,000 a month, for up to 24 months, for full-time studies.
Now, workers will be able to claim a portion of the training allowance for part-time courses. Eligible courses will also be expanded to include more that are conducted by industry leaders and private training providers.
These moves are needed as Singapore enters the era of artificial intelligence (AI), said PM Wong.
Noting that AI is already being used in everyday life and in the civil service, he added: 'The real game changer lies in using AI to raise productivity and create new value through every part of the economy.'
Singapore will help companies big and small to harness AI and automation to stay competitive, he said. But the government also recognises that technology will disrupt jobs.
'Even as we embrace artificial intelligence and technology, we will not lose sight of our key priority,' he said. 'Singaporeans will always be at the centre of everything we do. So we won't just rush headlong to adopt new technology.'
The government will work with the NTUC, unions and workers to redesign jobs, and retrain workers, he said.
Technological innovation disrupts, but also creates opportunities, he noted. Some jobs will disappear, but new roles – that require higher skills but fetch better pay – will emerge.
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