Training Emerges as Top Priority for Business Leaders as Advanced Manufacturing Ramps Up Tech Adoption

• Over nine in ten business leaders (30% strongly agree, 63% agree) concur that their organisation risks falling behind if it does not adopt new technologies.

• In adopting innovative technologies in advanced manufacturing, employee training is the top priority (61%) for business leaders, alongside upgrading machinery with robotics/automation capabilities (48%) and conducting pilot projects (33%).

• Nearly three in four (71%) leaders say their workforce is well-prepared for the shift towards technology-enabled manufacturing, but most still lack in-demand skills like robotics operation and programming (57%), artificial intelligence (AI) tool operation (56%) and digital literacy (47%).

SINGAPORE, Nov. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Singapore’s manufacturing sector accelerates towards advanced, technology-enabled production, over nine in ten business leaders (30% strongly agree, 63% agree) concur that their organisation risks falling behind if it fails to adopt new technologies.

To stay ahead, companies are investing in both people and technology. Employee training on new technologies (61%) ranks as the top priority taken by business leaders to advance technology adoption, followed by upgrading machinery with robotics/automation capabilities (48%) and conducting pilot projects (33%).

These are some of the key findings from NTUC LearningHub’s Industry Insights Report on Advanced Manufacturing, which surveyed 250 business leaders to explore the current landscape of the advanced manufacturing sector in Singapore, focusing on how advancements in technology, in particular AI solutions, robotics and automation, the Internet of Things (IoT) and process improvement and automation, are reshaping the sector. In addition, the report examines the implications of these trends on the workforce, including training needs, in-demand skills, and job opportunities.

According to the report, nearly three in four business leaders (71%) believe their workforce is well-prepared for the shift towards technology-enabled manufacturing but most still lack in-demand skills like robotics operation and programming (57%), artificial intelligence (AI) tool operation (56%) and digital literacy (47%).

To build these capabilities, manufacturers are expanding their hiring pipelines. Business leaders are most inclined to hire systems integration engineers (36%), robotics operators/technicians (35%), AI/data analysts (31%), followed by digital transformation managers (31%) and automation specialists (30%).

Additionally, about nine in ten business leaders (24% strongly agree, 67% agree) believe that the rise of innovative technologies in advanced manufacturing will lead to the creation of new job opportunities. Business leaders identify robotics programming and maintenance (38%), human–robot collaboration coordination (35%) and process optimisation consulting (28%) as the top areas where new job functions will emerge.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Mr Tay Ee Learn, Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Sector Skills Officer, NTUC LearningHub, says, “Advanced manufacturing is undergoing a profound transformation, driven not only by technological innovation but also by the evolving demands on the workforce. As automation, AI, and digitalisation reshape production environments, the sector is seeing a convergence of engineering and IT skill sets. This shift is prompting manufacturers to rethink talent strategies, placing greater emphasis on multi-disciplinary capabilities, adaptability, and lifelong learning. Over the next few years, we can expect advanced manufacturing to become increasingly agile, with roles that blend technical expertise and digital fluency. The future of manufacturing will be defined not just by machines, but by the people who harness their potential.”

To download the Industry Insights Report on Advanced Manufacturing, please visit https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/media/research-reports/2025/Advanced-Manufacturing. To find out more about the courses, training, and grants, please contact NTUC LearningHub at www.ntuclearninghub.com.

About NTUC LearningHub

NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Infocomm Technology, Generative AI & Cloud, Healthcare, Retail & Food Services, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources & Coaching and Foreign Workers Training.

To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 34,000 organisations and achieved more than 3.2 million training places across more than 1,000 courses with a pool of about 1,000 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships to offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training. Besides in-person training, we also offer instructor-led virtual live classes (VLCs) and asynchronous online learning. The NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform (LXP)—a one-stop online learning platform—offers timely, bite-sized and quality content for learners to upskill anytime and anywhere. Beyond learning, LXP also serves as a platform for jobs and skills development for both workers and companies.

For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com.

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