Singapore trains 40,000 tech workers in AI over three years
Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will train 40,000 technology professionals in artificial intelligence over the next three years as part of a national effort to build an AI-ready workforce.
The initiative expands the existing TechSkills Accelerator to include final-year Information and Digital Technologies students alongside working professionals. It builds on an earlier government commitment to train 100,000 non-tech workers to be AI-capable by 2029.
AIxTech programme targets hands-on skills
The centrepiece is AIxTech, a new curriculum developed jointly by IMDA and AI Singapore. More than 30 technology firms, AI centres of excellence, government agencies, and institutes of higher learning shaped the programme.
The two-phase structure includes 18 hours of self-paced online training with AI coding instruction, followed by post-course support. Participants receive S$600 in credits for continued access to AI coding tools.
The programme includes access to Claude, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Kiro, and other platforms. IMDA said the lineup will be updated periodically as the field evolves.
Course fees are set at S$180 for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Final-year IDT students who hold citizenship or residency attend at no cost.
Early uptake signals employer demand
Companies across tech and non-tech sectors have already expressed interest in enrolling employees. NCS, ST Engineering, OCBC, and Standard Chartered are among those cited by IMDA.
For HR professionals managing workforce development, this signals a clear market expectation: AI fluency is becoming a baseline skill requirement across industries, not just in technology roles.
Workgroup to track how AI reshapes tech jobs
A new workgroup co-led by IMDA and Workforce Singapore will study how AI is changing technology roles and inform future training initiatives. It will draw on networks including the Singapore Computer Society, SGTech, and the Tech Talent Assembly.
IMDA said the workgroup's findings would help keep recommendations relevant as roles evolve and shape future initiatives to support Singapore's digital economy.
This approach mirrors what HR teams should be doing internally: monitoring how AI adoption changes job descriptions, skill requirements, and career progression paths. The AI Learning Path for CHROs covers workforce analytics and talent management strategies relevant to these shifts.
Digital leaders programme expands
IMDA's Singapore Digital Leadership Accelerator community has grown to more than 1,600 members since its 2022 launch. Twenty-one new leaders were inducted, including professionals driving AI adoption in legal services and quantum infrastructure for cybersecurity.
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