#singaporedispatch

Singapore is aggressively pursuing AI leadership, with PM Lawrence Wong’s Budget 2026 initiatives — including a National AI Council, better AI literacy in education, and SkillsFuture incentives like free premium AI subscriptions — aiming to capture major economic gains from projected global job creation and regional investment.

However, a Nineby9 report warns of a widening AI gender gap in Singapore and the region. Women face “double exposure”: they hold more jobs vulnerable to AI displacement (e.g., administrative and service roles — 33.8% of disrupted jobs are held by women vs. 28.8% by men, per LinkedIn data), while remaining heavily underrepresented in AI-technical, augmented, and decision-making roles (only ~29% globally).

Unlike the slower-building STEM gender gap (~35% women in Singapore’s STEM workforce), AI’s rapid spread affects most white-collar sectors, risking faster exclusion. Gen Z women are especially vulnerable, with fewer entry-level stepping stones and lower AI training rates.

Leaders interviewed highlight key issues and solutions:

Women often adopt cautious, thorough approaches to AI experimentation, which can be undervalued in speed-rewarding cultures — though these traits may become strengths as AI matures into governance and reliability phases.

Optional, after-hours upskilling disadvantages women with caregiving responsibilities.

Structural fixes needed: integrate training into work hours, build internal AI communities, offer psychological safety, and — crucially — provide active sponsorship (senior leaders advocating for women in high-visibility AI projects) rather than just mentorship.

Positively, current generative AI tools lower technical barriers, enabling non-technical women (e.g., educators, business owners) to automate routine tasks, boost productivity, and focus on human-centric work — potentially leveling some playing fields when embraced boldly.

While official data shows no clear disproportionate employment impact on women yet, forward-looking risks include slower career progression, reduced visibility in digital leadership, and less influence over how AI is shaped and deployed.

The latest survey of Singapore university graduates paints a worrying picture: fewer fresh graduates are landing full-time work within six months, even as median salaries remain flat at S$4,500. While the numbers may not signal a crisis, they highlight a growing disconnect between graduate expectations and the realities of a cautious job market.

Economic uncertainty and global developments have made employers more conservative, reducing openings in outward-facing sectors like information and communications. Meanwhile, more graduates are forced into temporary or part-time work—often involuntarily—underscoring the fragility of early career paths.

On paper, Singapore’s tech sector looks like a golden opportunity: it contributed nearly 19% of GDP in 2024, supports over 200,000 jobs, and the government is pouring resources into AI and digital innovation. Yet for fresh graduates in computer science, software engineering, and information systems, entering the workforce feels like hitting a glass ceiling.

The challenge isn’t the value of their degrees—it’s alignment. Many graduates emerge with solid theoretical knowledge but lack the operational readiness that employers now demand. With entry-level roles shrinking and expectations rising, the “first rung” on the career ladder is vanishing just as the sector expands.

Contrary to the common perception that young workers chase flexible work, a study by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) finds that financial stability and job security are their top priorities. While progression and flexible arrangements remain important, these are valued only when pay, security, and support are in place.

The study, covering over 1,000 youths and 250 employers, highlights a disconnect: employers often frame career exposure and added responsibilities as incentives, but young workers interpret these gestures as insufficient if stability is not guaranteed. This gap contributes to frustration, with many youths open to new job opportunities despite perceived “growth” incentives.

Singapore may set its 2030 carbon tax toward the lower end of the S$50–S$80 per tonne range, according to Budget 2026, depending on global climate developments. While putting a price on carbon remains a key tool for reducing emissions, a lower rate could ease cost pressures on domestic industries and maintain Singapore’s competitiveness, particularly as some countries scale back climate ambitions.

However, a lower carbon tax may reduce urgency for companies to decarbonise or invest in high-quality international carbon credits, which are verified and more expensive than voluntary credits. Singapore’s emissions have already dropped slightly due to reduced output in the petrochemical sector, but further decarbonisation depends on emerging technologies, renewable energy deployment, hydrogen development, and regional collaboration.

Singtel users in Singapore experienced service disruptions for the third day in a row on March 18, 2026. According to Downdetector, reports of problems surged from just over 50 at 5:30 pm to 536 by 6:17 pm. Singtel acknowledged the “momentary connectivity issues” in a Facebook post at 7:26 pm and later confirmed the matter was resolved.

Singaporean YouTuber Sneaky Sushii apologised after Bulgarian creator Toni Vesdream pointed out notable similarities between their videos on a niche Japanese horror film. Vesdream had posted his video in March 2025, while Sushii uploaded his own a few months later in August. The overlap included narrative style and unique methods of depicting the film’s graphic content, such as explaining violent scenes without showing them directly.

While Vesdream initially felt flattered, he noted that other elements of Sushii’s video mirrored his own work too closely. The issue gained wider attention after YouTuber AugustTheDuck highlighted further similarities, describing them as potential plagiarism rather than mere inspiration.

Singapore and Japan marked the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations by upgrading their ties to a Strategic Partnership on March 18. During his official visit to Japan from March 17 to 19, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong signed the framework with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo. The leaders met at the Prime Minister’s Office and also shared a working dinner.

The new partnership focuses on five key pillars: trade, technology, security and defence, green energy, and broader partnerships. Commitments include promoting free and open trade, economic resilience, and annual Japan-Singapore Economic Dialogue. Digital and AI cooperation will expand, including an ICT policy dialogue and collaboration on AI governance and language-sensitive models. Space cooperation is set to grow through a memorandum between JAXA and Singapore’s NSAS in 2026.

On security, both countries reaffirmed their shared interest in regional peace, maritime security, and combatting transnational crimes, while also committing to joint climate action. People-to-people exchanges across arts, culture, youth, and academia will also be strengthened.

Adding a personal touch, the leaders exchanged musical gifts—PM Wong received a Japanese guitar strap, while PM Takaichi was gifted Singaporean musician’s earphones—reflecting their shared love of music.