Prepare for disruption, take advantage of opportunities: Tharman

SINGAPORE — The Republic tends to be reactive and therefore scales manpower training up or down according to rapidly developing trends, so how can it ensure the training will not then be obsolete because of new trends?

This was an observation made by a participant at a post-National Day Rally dialogue yesterday as he also cited how regulations were playing catch-up with ride-sharing apps such as Uber and short-term rental websites such as Airbnb.

“Five years down the road, we won’t know what the next trend is. How are we going to be more proactive ... in ensuring our education, job experience, will not become obsolete as technology changes?” he asked.

In wrapping up the dialogue, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam acknowledged that disruptive change will continually hit Singapore and displace some jobs, “but we make up for it by creating new jobs and being part of the new opportunities that are created”.

“We can’t forecast well in advance. Is it going to be biosciences, is it going to be the latest in information technology? But we have got to spot the emerging waves early,” he said as he called on the 200 youth attending the dialogue at the Bukit Batok Community Club to “ride” those waves.

He suggested that Singapore can also achieve more than what has been achieved to date. He cited the example of Sweden, which he said has a less competitive system and an education system that is “not fantastic” compared with Singapore, yet still produces companies that are among the world’s best.

“I think we need more free play in our system, starting from young, in primary school, in secondary school; diverse experiences when young, a growth mindset,” he concluded.

Participants at the dialogue, organised by seven Youth Executive Committees in Jurong, Yuhua and Bukit Batok, commented that ride-booking apps in particular have disrupted the market and displaced labour, and asked how the incumbents could be supported.

But Member of Parliament Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC) replied that the demand for taxis was so high during peak periods that the incumbent taxi companies could not meet it alone.

“So Uber and Grab fill the gap; they provide an alternative,” he said. “Every time technology displaces someone, there are always other jobs created.”

Senior Minister of State and MP (Jurong GRC) Desmond Lee, also on the panel, mentioned the point of new opportunities as well when addressing a question about how workers displaced by technology can be helped.

He highlighted the landscaping sector, where many older workers are used to old methods. Younger workers he spoke to, however, saw a future in utilising new tools and technology.

“As much as we mechanise and use technology ... the transformation of the sector for productivity, in fact, creates niches and opportunities for young Singaporeans to enter this sector.

“Who are the ones who are likely to don 3D goggles and manipulate 3D graphics to construct virtually?” he asked, noting that the older generation who are used to 2D drawings were more resistant.