AI training a competitive advantage in attracting talent
Jobseekers in Singapore are more interested in employers offering training in artificial intelligence, according to a new report, as utilisation of AI tools continues to grow.
Indeed's latest report stated jobseekers are "choosing employers" who help them grow with AI, with 77% indicating they want or would want more training in the next two to five years.
The findings come as 33% of employees revealed they haven't received any formal training on AI, despite 36% saying they are already using generative AI tools on the job.
Callam Pickering, Indeed's APAC senior economist, said the ability to learn is becoming a critical advantage in a job market that's rapidly evolving.
"Jobseekers will increasingly gravitate towards employers that foster a strong learning culture around AI," Pickering said in a statement. "For businesses, this is no longer a 'nice to have.' Offering meaningful AI training is fast becoming a competitive edge in attracting, developing, and retaining top talent."
Training employees in AI
According to the report, among the top barriers holding back workers from formal tech training are:
- No compensation or time off for training (42%)
- Prefer hands-on learning over formal training (33%)
- Poor or mismatched training content (27%)
- Avoiding new technologies altogether (21%)
But the report said the demand for learning exists if there is support from employers.
"Workers are open to learning new technologies when the conditions are right," it said.
Their top five confidence boosters for tech adoption include:
- Easy-to-use, well-documented tech
- Using technology in a safe, low-pressure environment
- Clear communication about upcoming tech changes
- Structured training
- Access to self-paced online learning tools
"Employers must take a hard look at existing training programmes and update them to reflect the realities of today's AI-driven workplace," Pickering said.
"This means moving beyond one-off workshops and building continuous learning pathways that are tailored, accessible, and linked to real-world tasks employees perform. Embedding AI literacy into onboarding, offering hands-on learning with real tools, and encouraging cross-functional collaboration can help make training more impactful."
