Singapore's IMDA to Upskill 40,000 Tech Workers in AI Skills Over Next Three Years Amid Global Race

Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced a bold push to upskill 40,000 tech professionals and students over the next three years.

This expansion of the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) under the National AI Impact Program (NAIIP) aims to build AI fluency amid rapid industry changes.

Launch of AIxTech Program

The new AIxTech initiative, co-developed with AI Singapore and over 30 tech firms, equips workers with skills for automating code and building agentic systems.

Phase one offers 18 hours of self-paced online modules with hands-on training using tools like GitHub Copilot and Claude.

Phase two provides S$600 credits for advanced AI coding access and community support through virtual platforms and meetups.

Broader Workforce Strategy

IMDA is co-leading a workgroup with Workforce Singapore, Singapore Computer Society, and others to adapt skills to evolving tech roles.

The program complements plans to train 100,000 non-tech workers AI basics by 2029, fostering a bilingual workforce across sectors.

Singapore's SG Digital Leaders community has grown to over 1,600 members, with 21 new leaders inducted to champion AI globally.

Implications for Economy and Jobs

By prioritizing responsible AI governance via IMDA's AI Verify tools, the initiative mitigates risks like bias in agentic systems.

This positions Singapore ahead in Southeast Asia's AI talent race, attracting firms like NCS and ST Engineering while safeguarding jobs from automation.

For everyday Singaporeans, these efforts mean more secure careers, innovative services, and a stronger digital economy driving everyday conveniences like smarter healthcare and transport.