Singapore PM Promises No 'Jobless Growth' as AI Transforms Economy

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has affirmed that his country will not experience “jobless growth” as artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the global economy.

Wong, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, stressed that the government will harness AI to drive growth and ensure that its benefits are felt by workers.

“That is how we give every Singaporean the confidence to move forward in the future,” Wong said in parliament on Thursday (February 26, 2026), while concluding the three-day Budget 2026 debate, as reported by CNA.

Four sectors are the focus: advanced manufacturing, connectivity, finance, and healthcare.

“Each sector is different, and how they use AI and the impact on workers in each sector will vary,” Wong said.

“And that is why we are coordinating all these efforts through the National AI Council, aligning industry transformation and workforce upgrading to ensure that AI uplifts our workers.

“That is our guarantee, and that is why our strategy going forward is clear,” he added.

Wong acknowledged the anxieties of workers and recent graduates facing the wave of AI.

“These concerns are real, and we must and will take them seriously,” he said.

Singapore’s experience shows that AI improves job quality and productivity, even as some tasks are automated.

The Singaporean labor market is considered resilient. The proportion of employed workers remains at almost 91 percent, the highest in history. Increases have occurred in most sectors.

The number of job openings still exceeds the number of job seekers. More than 40 percent of openings are for professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs).

Wong stressed that there is no evidence of mass layoffs due to AI.

“We cannot just rely on today’s data; we must prepare for tomorrow,” he said.