Skills & Workforce Development Agency (SWDA)

22/10/2026

Your skills can open doors to new job opportunities and help you grow in your career.

But how can we make skills a bigger part of how people plan their careers and how employers hire and develop their people?

The Skills & Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), together with our partners NTUC Singapore, the Singapore Business Federation, the Singapore National Employers Federation and the Singapore University of Social Sciences, has co-authored the Skills-First Framework for Action (FfA) to help put this into practice. It is the sixth and final paper in the Centre for Skills-First Practices’ Skills-First Working Paper Series.

The FfA focuses on three shifts:

✅ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆: Take stock of your skills and career goals, not just when you are looking for a new job.

✅ 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Consider skills when hiring, developing employees and planning for future workforce needs.

✅ 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: Help more employers and sectors adopt and build on effective Skills-First practices.

The FfA also proposes 12 pilot ideas to test these approaches. These include regular career and skills reviews for individuals, support for SMEs to adopt Skills-First practices, and better information on how jobs and skills are changing.

Whether you are planning your next career move or thinking about the skills your business needs, the goal is simple: make skills a bigger part of the decisions that help people and businesses grow.

SWDA looks forward to working with our partners to test these ideas and turn Skills-First principles into practical action.

Jasmin Lau 刘洁敏

20/10/2026

Congratulations to DLE M&E Pte Ltd on receiving the Workforce Transformation Award for the Built Environment Industry!

The award was presented at The Singapore Contractors Association Ltd - SCAL Annual Dinner 2026, attended by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat 徐芳达. 👏

Here's how the company is investing in its people:

📚 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: Through SWDA's Career Conversion Programme for Built Environment Professionals, employees received hands-on training and mentoring to develop skills in project planning, site coordination and stakeholder management.

⚙️ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸: By automating routine administrative tasks, employees can now spend less time on paperwork and focus on work that makes better use of their skills. With new skills and less time spent on routine tasks, employees have more opportunities to take on different responsibilities and progress in their careers.

When companies invest in their people, everyone stands to benefit. SWDA will continue working with industry partners to help more businesses grow while creating better opportunities for their employees.

19/10/2026

AI is changing the way we work, but are businesses ready to bring their people along for the journey?

At the SkillsFuture Summit for Businesses, industry leaders came together to explore what it really takes to adopt AI effectively in the workplace. The key takeaway? Technology is only part of the equation. Investing in people and their skills is just as important.

That means empowering teams to experiment, supporting employees as their roles evolve and fostering a culture where learning never stops. By doing so, businesses can better equip employees to adapt, grow and seize new opportunities.

18/10/2026

Thinking about a career switch, looking to pick up new skills or wondering how AI might change the way you work? 🤔

You don't have to navigate these decisions alone. Career and skills support is available right in your community.

At the recent SkillsFuture Festival @ South West, the Skills & Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) and the five Community Development Councils (CDCs) announced the renewal of our partnership to bring more career and skills support closer to residents.

As part of this partnership, SkillsFuture Advice will be renamed Careers & Skills for Community (CSC) with effect from 1 December 2026, with an expanded focus on helping residents take charge of their career health and navigate the impact of AI at work, alongside lifelong learning and skills development.

Through CSC, residents can continue to access practical guidance and support to take their next steps, including:

💡 Career guidance to explore career options and plan their next steps

📚 Training opportunities to pick up new skills and stay relevant

🤝 Employment support to explore job opportunities and navigate career transitions

Together with the five CDCs and Lifelong Learning SG, SWDA aims to support about 50,000 participants each year across Singapore's five districts.

The two-day SkillsFuture Festival @ South West was launched by Minister for Education and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee, together with Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, and Mayor of South West District Low Yen Ling.

Whether you're starting your career, considering a change or looking to grow in your current role, support is closer than you think. Take charge of your career journey and explore the opportunities available in your community! 🌱

17/10/2026

Curious about how AI is reshaping careers in renewable energy? Discover the tools and skills that professionals in the industry are picking up to work more effectively with AI: https://go.gov.sg/fboct26-renewable-energy

Register your interest to find out more about SWDA’s Career Matching & Guidance Services here: https://go.gov.sg/cms-content-fb

Here’s a roundup of the artificial intelligence (AI) tools and skills that are trending for those working in the renewable energy industry.

17/10/2026

Planning your next career move? From exploring your options and preparing for interviews to negotiating your salary, discover 5 AI tools that can help you navigate each step with greater confidence: https://go.gov.sg/fboct26-ai-tools

Register your interest to find out more about SWDA’s Career Matching & Guidance Services here: https://go.gov.sg/cms-content-fb

From planning your career to acing interviews and negotiating your salary, these artificial intelligence (AI) tools can help you work smarter at every stage.

16/10/2026

Congratulations to OSIM International for winning the Workforce Transformation Award for Retail at the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) Excellent Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2026! 🎉

OSIM didn't just upgrade its technology; it invested in its people. The company reskilled its frontline staff through the Career Conversion Programme for Retail Professionals and Associates to help them take on new roles as trainers and champions of change within the organisation.

With new digital tools like retail dashboards, a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and AI training, OSIM's employees are now spending less time on manual tasks and more time on meaningful, higher-value work.

The award was presented by Guest of Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, Singapore and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth - MCCY and Terence Ong, Director of Trade & Lifestyle Division at SWDA, in recognition of OSIM's commitment to building a workforce that doesn't just adapt to change but helps lead it.

Kudos to OSIM and all the winners of EXSA 2026! 👏

15/10/2026

🏆 Congratulations to the Skills & Workforce Development Agency’s (SWDA) Planning and Intelligence Division for emerging as the champion of our inaugural Data Arcade Tournament!

The tournament brought together teams from SWDA, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic to explore how data and AI could help us:

📊 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 by analysing data to understand training needs and outcomes.

🔗 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 by using data to identify evolving employers’ needs and skills gaps.

🎓 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 by leveraging workplace learning to support job placements and career transitions.

By bringing together students' fresh ideas and SWDA's experience, the tournament provided an opportunity to explore fresh solutions to real-world challenges, while giving students a chance to apply their skills beyond the classroom.

A big shout-out to all participating teams and our polytechnic partners for bringing your creativity, fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the competition! 👏

Through collaborations like these, we hope to harness data, AI and fresh perspectives to better support Singaporeans in their learning and careers, while helping businesses develop their workforce.

14/10/2026

𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚: 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 & 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮

What does the merger of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) mean for individuals, employers and our partners?

As the national accreditation and certification agency for financial industry competency in Singapore under the Skills Framework for Financial Services, the appointed programme manager for the administration of Career Conversion Programmes for the financial industry under the Skills & Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), as well as the Jobs Development Partner for the financial industry, The Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore (IBF) brings an industry-wide perspective on what this means in practice.

Carolyn Neo, Chief Executive Officer of IBF, shares how SWDA can better connect skills development with career and workforce needs:

"WSG and SSG have been valued partners of IBF in helping Singapore’s financial sector workforce build relevant skills and stay employable. Through initiatives such as the Skills Framework for Financial Services and Career Conversion Programmes, we have worked together to help professionals gain new skills, make career transitions and support financial institutions as their business and talent needs evolve.

With the formation of SWDA, we have an opportunity to bring skills and employment support together more closely. For the financial sector, this can help individuals see clearer pathways from learning to job opportunities, get more targeted support when making career moves, and build skills that keep pace with the changing needs of the industry.

IBF looks forward to deepening our partnership with SWDA to build a more resilient and adaptable financial sector workforce."

13/10/2026

The relationships you build at work can shape both your job satisfaction and how well you perform. Here are 5 strategies to help you build stronger workplace relationships: https://go.gov.sg/fboct26-work-relationships

Register your interest to find out more about SWDA’s Career Matching & Guidance Services here: https://go.gov.sg/cms-content-fb

Strong, healthy work relationships shape how much you enjoy your job — and directly affect your performance. Here's how to build and maintain them well.