Despite a positive outlook on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the business sector, Singapore is encountering significant obstacles in recruiting AI professionals. Deel, an all-in-one HR platform for global teams, has recently released findings indicating that a substantial 86% of large organisations in Singapore foresee a heightened demand for AI expertise over the next two to three years, specifically in customer service, product development, and sales and marketing.
The “Singapore Business Leader Pulse Check: Talent Landscape” survey, which targeted decision-makers in large enterprises with more than 1,000 employees, revealed that 39% of these organisations are struggling to hire the right AI talent. The primary challenges they face include high salary expectations, reported by 63% of respondents, difficulty in accurately assessing a candidate's AI capabilities (62%), and a scarcity of qualified candidates in the local job market (59%).
Global hiring to mitigate local talent shortages
In response to these difficulties, nearly half of the surveyed business leaders (49%) are considering candidates from both Singapore and abroad. This approach is in line with the goals of Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0, which aims to triple the local AI workforce to 15,000 by enhancing local training and attracting international talent. Karen Ng, Regional Head of Expansion & Market Lead for Singapore, Hong Kong, ASEAN, and India at Deel, highlighted the benefits of this strategy: “Global hiring enables companies to find highly specialised skills including AI talent. This alleviates the pressure of local skill shortages while ensuring Singapore has the right expertise needed to stay competitive at a global level. To do so, it requires collective effort between public and private sectors to ensure smooth hiring and managing talent locally and internationally.”
Furthermore, 70% of large organisations appreciate global hiring for providing access to a broader talent pool, 62% for fostering a more diverse organisation, and 58% for enabling skill transfer to local employees through international experts' mentorship.
The significance of remote work and AI integration in HR
The survey also underscored the continuing relevance of remote work, with 90% of companies seeing it as compatible with their operational strategies. Remote work supports talent retention for 80% of these organisations and attracts new talent for 62%, while also helping 61% of them reduce costs.
Moreover, 98% of organisations have embraced or are considering AI integration to streamline their operations and attract talent. Currently, 54% are using AI tools in their HR practices, including Generative AI, AI recruitment and screening tools, and virtual assistants. This integration significantly improves accuracy and reduces human errors in payroll and benefits administration, as acknowledged by 62% of the surveyed organisations.
