（Singapore, 16.09.2026）Singapore is stepping up efforts to prepare its workforce for artificial intelligence, launching more than 200 AI-related courses and offering eligible citizens six months of free access to premium AI tools as the technology begins to reshape jobs across the economy.
The initiatives were announced on Wednesday by the newly formed Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) at the SkillsFuture Festival 2026. The agency combines the functions of SkillsFuture Singapore and Workforce Singapore, bringing training, career development and employment support under a single organisation.
The more than 200 courses, offered by about 30 SWDA-supported training providers, range from basic workplace applications of AI to more advanced skills needed for AI-enabled jobs and business transformation. They are designed for workers with different levels of experience, including those who may have little knowledge of how to use the technology.
Eligible Singapore citizens aged 18 and above who enrol in and attend one of the selected courses can also receive a complimentary six-month subscription to a premium AI service. Options include ChatGPT Plus, Google AI Pro, Manus AI and Microsoft 365 Personal, as well as Singtel AI Pass, which provides access to six AI tools including Otter.AI and Hailuo AI.
The three-year SkillsFuture AI Subscription initiative was first announced in the 2026 Budget. The courses are supported and subsidised by SWDA, while participants can use their SkillsFuture Credit to cover the remaining course fees.
Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau said many Singaporeans are unsure where to begin as AI becomes increasingly common at work. Providing access to premium tools after training is intended to give participants an opportunity to practise what they have learned on real tasks rather than simply completing a course.
“Our hope is that all Singaporeans become a lot more confident in using AI and get more comfortable as work changes,” Lau said.
For some workers, that could mean becoming familiar with concepts such as AI prompting, while others may need more advanced skills to perform their existing jobs or move into emerging roles.
AI Set to Change How Singaporeans Work
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the impact of AI on employment remains difficult to predict, but the nature of existing jobs is certain to change as the technology advances.
“Whatever jobs we have, they will not be the same as today,” Wong said at the launch.
Job responsibilities will evolve, the skills demanded by employers will change and careers are likely to become less linear, he said. Rather than trying to prevent those changes, Singapore should ensure workers are equipped to take advantage of new opportunities created by technology.
The government is also introducing a tool to help people understand where they stand before deciding what training they need. SWDA has partnered the Singapore Institute of Technology to develop the AI Ready Quiz, a 12-question online assessment that takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Participants receive a personalised AI-readiness profile by email after completing the assessment, together with recommendations for learning resources and suitable AI courses.
The courses, assessment tools and information about the free AI subscriptions are available through the MySkillsFuture portal.
The initiatives come as Singapore tries to make its training and employment system easier to navigate. Wong said the large number of government schemes, programmes and training providers can sometimes leave people confused about where to seek assistance.
“People should not need to know which agency runs which scheme before they can get help,” he said.
Bringing Skills and Jobs Under One Roof
As part of that effort, SWDA has opened Connect by SWDA at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar, bringing career guidance, training and employment assistance together at one location.
Individuals visiting the centre can speak with career and skills advisers and receive AI-powered recommendations for job opportunities, training courses and available funding support. A second floor provides space for more focused consultations through appointments and selected activities.
Wong said the centre was designed to go beyond simply helping people register for courses. Job seekers can assess their current situation, identify employment opportunities and receive tailored guidance on the skills they need to progress in their careers.
Businesses will also receive support as Singapore seeks to connect workforce development more closely with corporate transformation. Employers can obtain advice on redesigning jobs, improving productivity and preparing employees to work with AI and other technologies.
SWDA has also introduced OurWorkforce, a new one-stop online portal that replaces the SkillsFuture for Business website. Companies can use the platform to search for training programmes and workforce solutions, receive recommendations based on their needs and access digital tools to identify opportunities for business transformation and AI adoption.
The broader aim is to ensure that workers benefit as companies become more productive and technology changes how businesses operate. Wong said workforce development should not be treated separately from business transformation, with employees needing better skills and career prospects as companies adapt.
The SkillsFuture Festival will run until Oct 28 and feature more than 140 events for individuals and businesses across Singapore.
Attention will now turn to how widely workers take up the new AI courses and subscriptions, particularly among those with limited experience using such tools. Lau said completing one course would not make someone an AI expert, but giving Singaporeans opportunities to learn, practise and use the technology could help them become more confident as workplaces continue to change.
