NTUC backs ESR recommendations to create better jobs and stronger career support in Singapore

Workers must remain at the centre of Singapore’s growth strategy in the form of better jobs, stronger progression pathways and greater career security as the country enters its next phase of economic transformation, said NTUC in a media statement on 13 May 2026.

The statement comes after the congress welcomed the Economic Strategy Review (ESR) Committee’s recommendations on how Singapore can strengthen its economic position and competitiveness for the future.

NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Choo, who co-chairs the ESR Committee that manages the impact of restructuring, said: “NTUC supports the ESR’s emphasis on creating a broader range of good jobs and ensuring that growth continues to benefit Singaporeans.

“This shift towards shaping how growth outcomes translate into better jobs is important to ensure that innovation strengthens, rather than weakens, worker prospects.”

He added that as AI continues to reshape work, Singapore must equip workers with the right skills to benefit from these shifts, giving them better job prospects and jobs.

To ensure the successful implementation of the ESR recommendations, NTUC noted that strong tripartite collaboration among the Government, employers and workers will be required.

The congress will continue to champion workers’ interests as it works with tripartite partners to ensure economic growth translates into better jobs and stronger career prospects for all workers.

ESR’s recommendations to secure growth and jobs

Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change – particularly in AI – the transition to a low-carbon economy, and slowing workforce growth, the ESR Committees outlined three key imperatives to guide Singapore’s next phase of development.

They include sharpening Singapore’s value proposition, enhancing its agility and adaptability, and strengthening its resilience alongside efficiency.

These imperatives underpin eight strategic thrusts, namely:

• Thrust 1: Build global leadership in areas of strength, and take bold bets for future growth

• Thrust 2: Make Singapore a global leader in AI solutions, and an AI-empowered economy

• Thrust 3: Strengthen Singapore’s role as a connected and trusted hub

• Thrust 4: Foster a more dynamic enterprise ecosystem so that more Singapore-based companies can start, scale, and succeed globally

• Thrust 5: Create more and a broader range of good jobs

• Thrust 6: Establish a stronger support system for career setbacks and transitions

• Thrust 7: Empower workers to learn for life and take charge of their careers

• Thrust 8: Build economic resilience as a core capability

The Government will study the recommendations and work with unions, businesses and other partners to translate them into concrete action.

The full ESR Final Report will be released soon.

Tripartite efforts to create more good jobs

NTUC’s efforts on the ESR’s second thrust to make Singapore a global leader in AI adoption and solutions are already underway.

On 30 April 2026, NTUC, together with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), announced that they would form the Tripartite Jobs Council (TJC) to help ensure that workers and businesses benefit from AI-driven transformation.

The TJC will drive broad-based and sectoral training for workers, provide targeted transition support for PMEs, youths and rank-and-file workers, raise public awareness of AI, and encourage greater take-up of ground initiatives.

NTUC will also support enterprise transformation by scaling up Company Training Committees (CTCs), ensuring these efforts translate into better wages and career prospects for workers.

Supporting workers through transitions more effectively

NTUC has consistently advocated for stronger, earlier and more proactive support for workers facing career setbacks and transitions, in line with ESR Thrust 6.

As restructuring accelerates, NTUC has called for enhanced support for both displaced workers and those at risk of displacement.

This includes developing structured “career bridges” to help workers move from at-risk roles into more resilient occupations, with unions contributing ground insights to shape practical transition pathways.

NTUC has also called for stronger transition support for PMEs affected by restructuring, including advance retrenchment notification to enable earlier intervention and support from intermediaries such as NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).

NTUC also reiterated the need for stronger financial support during transitions, welcomed the Government’s review of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support (JS) Scheme, and called for broader coverage of displaced PMEs by raising the current $5,000 income threshold to reflect median PME incomes better.

Deepening SkillsFuture, strengthening lifelong learning and career mobility

NTUC said the ESR’s focus on strengthening lifelong learning and better linking training to employment outcomes is timely, as workers face growing pressure to continuously upskill amid rapidly evolving jobs and skills demands while balancing work and family responsibilities.

To support workers through these changes, NTUC backed efforts to deepen SkillsFuture and expand flexible, modular training pathways that allow workers to upskill in ways compatible with their personal and professional commitments.

It added that training must remain accessible, relevant and closely aligned with evolving job roles so that workers can meaningfully apply new skills at the workplace.

NTUC also stressed the importance of stronger integration between learning and work, saying that expanding work-study and place-and-train pathways would help improve employment outcomes.

It added that the formation of the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) presents an opportunity to strengthen coordination across career guidance, skills development and employment support.

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