Who will do my job while I'm learning? S'pore workers want more tech training
The demand is there with 77 per cent of those polled wanting to receive formal learning for new workplace technology to stay current.
Employers can enable workers with user-friendly tools and environment to experiment
SINGAPORE – A lack of compensation and time off are the main reasons workers here avoid tech training , a new survey has found.
The demand is there with 77 per cent of those polled wanting to receive formal learning for new workplace technology to stay current, work more efficiently and to advance their careers.
Workers say the best support would be user-friendly tools, structured training and safe environments for practice.
The insights came from the survey of 1,500 local employees conducted in May by job portal Indeed and The Straits Times.
It found that just 2 per cent prefer to skip formal courses, citing poor training quality, a preference for on-the-job learning, or an aversion to tech .
The top complaint about people not being compensated for tech training come up often, said Indeed's senior economist for Asia-Pacific, Mr Callam Pickering.
'The question of who steps in while someone is away learning is a real and valid one, especially in lean teams or fast-paced environments,' he added.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Asia Live: Thai-Cambodia border clash
Asia At least 2 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border
Singapore Boy, 15, charged after being caught with vapes 5 times; ordered to stay 2 years in S'pore Boys' Home
Business MOM probing work injury claim flagged by late Sumo Salad boss Jane Lee: MOS Dinesh
Business New tie-up offers insurance savings for SMEs committed to workers' health and well-being
Singapore What's key to a good life? Most Singapore residents choose emotional and mental well-being
Asia No credible proof of Jho Low's location or passport use, says Malaysian Home Minister
Asia South Korea police raid offices of BTS' agency Hybe over share probe
Mr Pickering suggested the solution lies in shared responsibility. Workers may need to take initiatives on their own time, especially for personal growth.
That said, companies stand to gain more than productivity if they offer structured training during work hours.
He added: 'When employees are supported in their growth, they tend to be more confident, productive, and loyal. In a competitive job market, this is a clear advantage for employers.'
The survey showed that many workers expect little change to their daily digital work tools.
Email and communication platforms such as Slack remain the most commonly used technologies, with employees expecting to rely on these staples for the next five years.
Workers placed generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) such as ChatGPT in third place in anticipated usage, up from fifth now, suggesting that most do not believe these tools will revolutionise their jobs overnight.
They also do not think AI agents – autonomous AI bots that can learn and perform office tasks without human supervision – would intrude much into their future workplace, ranking it seventh.
Mr David Martin, global leader of people and organisation practice at Boston Consulting Group, said workers around the world often anticipate the use of AI tools, but underestimate their impact on workflows, roles and decision-making.
The firm's global research shows that 70 per cent of workers use gen AI regularly, but only half expect fundamental changes to how their work is structured.
Agentic AI, especially, shows up this perception gap, he said.
Mr Martin cited the Indeed-ST survey and noted: 'The high levels of awareness in Singapore – with 44 per cent of workers expecting to use gen AI and 25 per cent agentic AI – place the country among more digitally mature markets globally.'
The survey also upended common stereotypes about blue-collar workers, who comprised 20 per cent of respondents, a percentage that mirrors their make-up in Singapore's 3.7 million resident workforce.
About 41 per cent of these workers – such as nurses, drivers and food service providers – worry about losing their jobs if they don't keep up with technology, higher than 38 per cent among their office-bound counterparts.
About 72 per cent, not far below the 78 per cent among their office-bound peers, want more training for the digital tools they anticipate using.
Mr Pickering said: 'It challenges the outdated perception that frontline roles are resistant to digital tools. In most cases, it's not a matter of reluctance but rather a lack of access or support.'
Given uncomplicated tools and hands-on training, blue-collar workers are often quick adopters, he added, noting: 'By underestimating their readiness, we risk overlooking a significant pool of talent and missing opportunities to build more agile and inclusive teams.'
Dr Sahara Sadik, deputy director of research at the Institute of Adult Learning Singapore, urges policy-makers to devote attention to reimagining jobs for this group of workers.
She co-authored a new report with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), which warns that professional jobs in Singapore will increasingly be off-shored, so discussions on creating sustainable AI-augmented blue-collared jobs should be happening now.
Technology could r edefine sales roles as customer scientists, gardeners as AI-assisted tree doctors, and zookeepers as zoology specialists, she said.
Her co-author, Ms Tay Pei Chin, senior policy adviser for government innovation at the TBI, said current national initiatives are skewed towards upskilling and re-skilling, focusing on the changing demands on labour, but neglecting aspects of jobs.
The pair said weaning Singapore off its reliance on global firms to provide good jobs is becoming more critical, as these companies may no longer deliver them at scale in the way they once did.
Experts are beginning to notice organisations' AI adoption hitting walls put up by workers who fear being displaced or blamed for technology errors.
But Mr Martin said these employees are also more likely to report better outcomes when supported by managers: 'This dual reality means that leadership communication, training, and transparency must scale with AI deployment.'
The survey further highlights what makes technology adoption succeed.
Mr Pickering added: 'Workers are more likely to embrace new tools when they are easy to use, come with clear documentation, and are paired with structured training, whether through workshops, tutorials, or hands-on sessions.
'Importantly, giving employees space to experiment in a low-pressure environment can go a long way.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
No purchase needed: South Korea businesses offer heat relief to the public
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The latest campaign comes as the number of people suffering from heat-related illnesses continues to climb during the heat wave. SEOUL - Amid the sweltering summer heat , commercial spaces such as convenience stores and banks in South Korea are opening their doors as cooling stations for the public. BGF Retail, the operator of CU convenience stores, said on July 23 that its more than 18,000 branches nationwide will welcome all passersby, especially children, the elderly and pregnant women, to cool off without requiring a purchase. CU stores across the country began putting up signs about the policy on the same day. The latest campaign comes as the number of people suffering from heat-related illnesses continues to climb during the heat wave. On July 22 alone, 136 people across the country were admitted to emergency rooms due to heat-related illnesses, nearly double the number on the previous day. So far, 1,860 people have fallen ill from the heat and nine have died, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 'With the country's largest network of convenience stores, we aim to serve as a safety net for the public,' a CU official said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Asia Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive in Shanghai's luxury estate Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur calling for the resignation of PM Anwar Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Business Can STI continue its defiant climb in second half of 2025? Local banks, which have long served as de facto heat shelters thanks to their strong air conditioning and cold water dispensers, also welcome people seeking relief from the summer heat, with some even setting up a designated space for them. Based on a 2018 agreement with the Financial Services Commission, banks, mutual finance institutions and savings banks have provided cooling spaces at 5,054 locations nationwide. In response to the record-breaking heat, they recently expanded the number to over 14,000 locations. These shelters will operate from 9am to 4pm daily until Sept 30, the end of the government-designated heat response period. However, despite the good intentions behind businesses' efforts to respond to the heat wave, some have voiced concerns about potential downsides to opening up private commercial spaces to the public. 'What if there's no seat left when I want to eat alone at a convenience store? I might not get a spot even if I pay,' one user wrote on X. Another commented, 'Banks are already packed with people cooling off. This will just make it more chaotic.' Intense heat is expected to continue into the weekend, with Seoul forecast to reach a high of 38 deg Celsius on July 26. Nighttime temperatures are also expected to remain high, nearing 30 deg Celsius, a level considered a 'super tropical night,' according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
40 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Microsoft probing whether cyber alert tipped off Chinese hackers
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Microsoft is looking into whether a leak from its early alert system led to the widespread exploitation of vulnerabilities in the SharePoint software. Microsoft is investigating whether a leak from its early alert system for cybersecurity companies allowed Chinese hackers to exploit flaws in its SharePoint service before they were patched, according to people familiar with the matter. The technology company is looking into whether the programme – designed to give cybersecurity experts a chance to fix computer systems before the revelation of new security concerns – led to the widespread exploitation of vulnerabilities in its SharePoint software globally over the past several days, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private matters. 'As part of our standard process, we'll review this incident, find areas to improve, and apply those improvements broadly,' a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement, adding that partner programmes are an important part of the company's security response. The Chinese embassy in Washington referred to comments made by foreign affairs ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun to media earlier this week, opposing hacking activities. 'Cybersecurity is a common challenge faced by all countries and should be addressed jointly through dialogue and cooperation,'' Mr Guo said. 'China opposes and fights hacking activities in accordance with the law. At the same time, we oppose smears and attacks against China under the excuse of cybersecurity issues.' Microsoft has attributed SharePoint breaches to state-sponsored hackers from China , and at least a dozen Chinese companies participate in the initiative, called the Microsoft Active Protections Program, or MAPP, according to Microsoft's website. Members of the 17-year-old programme must prove they are cybersecurity vendors and that they don't produce hacking tools like penetration testing software. After signing a non-disclosure agreement, they receive information about novel patches to vulnerabilities 24 hours before Microsoft releases them to the public. A subset of more highly-vetted users receive notifications of an incoming patch five days earlier, according to Microsoft's MAPP website. Mr Dustin Childs, head of threat awareness for the Zero Day Initiative at cybersecurity company Trend Micro, says Microsoft alerted members of the program about the vulnerabilities that led to the SharePoint attacks. 'These two bugs were included in the MAPP release,' says Mr Childs, whose company is a MAPP member. 'The possibility of a leak has certainly crossed our minds.' He adds that such a leak would be a dire threat to the program, 'even though I still think MAPP has a lot of value'. Victims of the attacks now total more than 400 government agencies and corporations worldwide, including the US's National Nuclear Security Administration, the division responsible for designing and maintaining the country's nuclear weapons. For at least some of the attacks, Microsoft has blamed Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon, groups sponsored by the Chinese government, as well as another China-based group it calls Storm-2603. In response to the allegations, the Chinese Embassy has said it opposes all forms of cyberattacks, while also objecting to 'smearing others without solid evidence'. Mr Dinh Ho Anh Khoa, a researcher who works for the Vietnamese cybersecurity firm Viettel, revealed that SharePoint had unknown vulnerabilities in May at Pwn2Own, a conference in Berlin run by Mr Childs' organisation where hackers sit on stage and search for critical security vulnerabilities in front of a live audience. After the public demonstration and celebration, Mr Khoa headed to a private room with Childs and a Microsoft representative, Mr Childs said. Mr Khoa explained the exploit in detail and handed over a full white paper. Microsoft validated the research and immediately began working on a fix. Mr Khoa won US$100,000 (S$128,160) for the work. It took Microsoft about 60 days to come up with a fix. On July 7, the day before it released a patch publicly, hackers attacked SharePoint servers, cybersecurity researchers said. It is possible that hackers found the bugs independently and began exploiting them on the same day that Microsoft shared them with MAPP members, says Mr Childs. But he adds that this would be an incredible coincidence. The other obvious possibility is that someone shared the information with the attackers. The leak of news of a pending patch would be a substantial security failure, but 'it has happened before,' says Mr Jim Walter, senior threat researcher the cyber firm SentinelOne. MAPP has been the source of alleged leaks as far back as 2012, when Microsoft accused the Hangzhou DPtech Technologies, a Chinese network security company, of disclosing information that exposed a major vulnerability in Windows. Hangzhou DPtech was removed from the MAPP group. At the time, a Microsoft representative said in a statement that it had also 'strengthened existing controls and took actions to better protect our information'. In 2021, Microsoft suspected at least two other Chinese MAPP partners of leaking information about vulnerabilities in its Exchange servers, leading to a global hacking campaign that Microsoft blamed on a Chinese espionage group called Hafnium. It was one of the company's worst breaches ever – tens of thousands of exchange servers were hacked, including at the European Banking Authority and the Norwegian Parliament. Following the 2021 incident, the company considered revising the MAPP program, Bloomberg previously reported. But it did not disclose whether any changes were ultimately made or whether any leaks were discovered. A 2021 Chinese law mandates that any company or security researcher who identifies a security vulnerability must report it within 48 hours to the government's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, according to an Atlantic Council report. Some of the Chinese companies that remain involved in MAPP, such as Beijing CyberKunlun Technology, are also members of a Chinese government vulnerabilities programme, the China National Vulnerability Database, which is operated by the country's Ministry of State Security, according to Chinese government websites. Mr Eugenio Benincasa, a researcher at ETH Zurich's Center for Security Studies, says there is a lack of transparency about how Chinese companies balance their commitments to safeguard vulnerabilities shared by Microsoft with requirements that they share information with the Chinese government. 'We know that some of these companies collaborate with state security agencies and that the vulnerability management system is highly centralised,' says Mr Benincasa. 'This is definitely an area that warrants closer scrutiny.' BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
‘US needs China's fireworks': No alternative for some Chinese goods amid trade uncertainty
LIUYANG/YIWU - Fourth of July celebrations in the United States might have just passed, but Chinese businessman Marx Wu is already prepared for a dampening effect of tariffs on sales of his fireworks to American customers for the festivities in 2026. This is due to the additional 30 per cent tariffs that US President Donald Trump has been imposing on China – since the outbreak of a trade war between the two countries in April – in a bid to bring back manufacturing to the US. 'Customers will be more cautious because their costs have increased significantly,' Mr Wu told The Straits Times. His company, Magnus Fireworks, is based in Liuyang, Hunan province, which is dubbed China's 'fireworks' hometown' for its expertise in manufacturing pyrotechnics. The US government now collects a 35.7 per cent tax from American importers for fireworks from China. The bulk of these sales are meant for the annual US Independence Day celebrations synonymous with fireworks displays. Such orders are typically made a year in advance. But Mr Wu, who sells mainly to the US, remains optimistic about his business' viability in the longer-term, because the strengths of the Chinese industry in Liuyang cannot be easily replicated elsewhere, he said. When unpacking the impacts of Trump's aggressive tariff strategy on Chinese manufacturers, it is a mixed picture on the ground. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Asia Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive in Shanghai's luxury estate Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur calling for the resignation of PM Anwar Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Business Can STI continue its defiant climb in second half of 2025? Mr Marx Wu with some of his company's firework products for US Independence Day celebrations at his office in Liuyang, Hunan province. ST PHOTO: LIM MIN ZHANG On the one hand, Mr Trump's move to impose tariffs across the board on Chinese goods in April has led to factory closures and worker lay-offs in certain sectors such as the garment industry, and accelerated moves to diversify away from the US market for other exporters. On the other hand, there are other products which simply have few to no alternatives to 'made in China', because the country's manufacturers are overwhelmingly competitive, say experts. When Mr Trump proclaimed 'Liberation Day' on April 2 with 'reciprocal tariffs' on the US' trading partners, Beijing and Washington engaged in a tit-for-tat tariff war. At one point, American importers had to pay a 145 per cent tax on Chinese goods. But bilateral trade talks since May 12 have de-escalated the situation. US and Chinese officials are set to meet in Stockholm next week (from July 27) to discuss a possible extension of a 90-day truce. The fireworks industry presents a case study showing how, despite trade tensions and strategic competition, the US and China remain economically intertwined. While US businesses now adopt a cautious approach in placing orders, the deals have continued to flow as Chinese manufacturers remain competitive. Liuyang has over decades accumulated the technical know-how, the quality of its raw materials, proper regulatory oversight and strict transportation requirements, Mr Wu said. Factories dot the surrounding mountainous terrain of the city, about an hour's drive from the inland Hunan capital of Changsha. Production has to stop for about a month for safety reasons every summer because of the heat. 'America needs fireworks – this will not change,' said Mr Wu. 'At the very most, they will buy fewer, but they will not stop buying completely. In addition, we have good relations with our customers who trust in our products, and they also believe that this (tariffs issue) is temporary.' Screenshot from a video Mr Wu took of a Fourth of July fireworks celebration in Ohio earlier in July. His company's products were used. PHOTO: MARX WU According to the American Pyrotechnic Association, 90 per cent of professional display fireworks used in the US are imported from China. Reports say that US companies import close to US$400 million worth of consumer fireworks from China each year. More than 200 other imported products depend on China for more than 90 per cent of their supply, including baby carriages, vacuum flasks, umbrellas and artificial plants. Mr Stephen Olson, a visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore who specialises in international trade, said that despite all the conflicts and tension, trade between the US and China has remained remarkably resilient. Although China's exports to the US declined in the first half of the year, China remains among the US' largest trade partners and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future, he said. China's exports to the US declined by 10.7 per cent in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, a drop of US$25.7 billion. 'Trump's tariffs have undoubtedly dented China's cost competitiveness but the resilience of China's exports reflect the simple fact that China is the world's preeminent manufacturer and is overwhelmingly competitive in a host of consumer products and industrial inputs. It's simply not possible to cut China entirely out of US consumer markets or supply chains,' Mr Olson said. Mr Steve Houser, president of Missouri-based Red Rhino Fireworks who was on a work trip to China, said he has already placed his orders for 2026, but added that he – like other major importers – is doing so much more cautiously. 'I'm being very particular on what I order. I'm ordering only what I really, really need. I'm not really taking chances on other things because of the tariff rates; the goods are costing me a lot more,' he told ST. He said that the National Fireworks Association in the US was recently in Washington DC to make the case that fireworks should be exempt from the across-the-board tariffs of 30 per cent, as there are no viable alternative suppliers from other countries. Apart from the fireworks business, the US-China trade war has resulted in uncertainty for many exporters, such as those in Yiwu, of Zhejiang province, which is home to the world's largest wholesale market for small commodities. The sprawling Yiwu International Trade City hosts more than 70,000 shops selling products from cosmetics to stationery, backpacks and Christmas decorations. Most shops that stocked Halloween and Christmas decorations at the trade city declined to speak with ST in early July, when it is usually the peak sales season for these products. A few shop owners would only say that business is slower in 2025, while others said they were not authorised to speak with the media. Rows of dozens of shops at Yiwu International Trade City in Zhejiang province selling Christmas decorations were largely empty when ST visited in early July. ST PHOTO: LIM MIN ZHANG Ms Guo Xiabing, an entrepreneur in Zhejiang who runs a factory making Christmas trees in Yiwu, said that typically, US customers are more able to afford higher-priced products, such as those with more fanciful ornaments. She shared about her factory's race to ship orders in the 90-day trade truce between the US and China in a documentary aired in June. 'Customers also do not want to give up on the orders. But that also means that we are left hanging, not knowing when we can resume production and shipping. This type of uncertainty causes a lot of anxiety. Should we let go of the workers? How would we find jobs for them?' she said. Yet others have taken a longer-term view, and have long made efforts to diversify away from the US market. Chief executive of Aokai Sporting Goods in Yiwu, Mr Wu Xiaoming, who has been in the industry for 30 years, counts the South American and African markets as his major customers - at about 50 per cent and 20 per cent respectively - with the US market accounting for only about 5 per cent. Chief executive of Aokai Sporting Goods in Yiwu, Mr Wu Xiaoming, inspecting a football bound for Nicaragua at his factory in Yiwu city, Zhejiang province. ST PHOTO: LIM MIN ZHANG He recalled that there was one American customer who called him to resume an order on May 13, shortly after news of successful US-China trade talks in Geneva was announced, as well as to place a new order for 90,000 footballs. His orders from the US are mainly for supermarkets. 'For the US market, the volume is still there. But it is US consumers who have to bear the cost (of the tariffs). If you force us to lower our costs, it means the quality of the product suffers, so ultimately it's still the consumers who pay the bill,' Mr Wu said. He believes that diversification is necessary for his company's viability, not only because of trade frictions, but also due to other sources of instability. He cited examples such as a Croatian client that halted a shipment because of the Kosovo War in 1998, and how demand from Russia has plummeted because of the Ukraine war. 'There has not been a period where the entire world was completely at peace... In Yiwu, we engage in global trade. If the West doesn't shine, the East will.'
