This interview is an excerpt from The Current State of the Global Manufacturing Workforce in 2025 and Beyond report and is part of our Modern Workforce Leader Series: Manufacturing Edition. It features Ang Wee Seng, one of APAC’s foremost semiconductor experts, who offered valuable insights into the manufacturing sector’s future. Ang shares insights on the value of supporting employees with modern workforce management technology and the importance of strengthening human interactions as a means of accessing the benefits of AI-powered workforce insights.
What are the biggest workforce challenges and opportunities currently facing Singapore’s semiconductor sector?
The semiconductor industry faces significant challenges due to ongoing volatility, economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions, which have created a ripple effect, causing many businesses to reevaluate their growth plans and delay investments. These conditions have heightened anxiety across the sector, emphasizing the importance of foresight and adaptability.
However, beyond these challenges, there is a significant opportunity for ongoing transformation. Volatility forces us to collaborate in ways we haven’t before. It highlights how countries traditionally outside the semiconductor realm, such as Hungary and Indonesia, are now joining the ecosystem. This broadens the supply chain’s reach and creates resilience through diversification. By focusing on advanced technologies, workforce upskilling and strategic global partnerships, Singapore is positioning itself not just to overcome current challenges but to lead the charge in creating a more resilient and innovative semiconductor industry for the future.
How is Singapore leveraging its ecosystem, including government initiatives and global partnerships, to tackle manufacturing workforce management challenges and support its semiconductor R&D ambitions?
The semiconductor industry is addressing significant workforce challenges, including a lack of interest among young talent and misconceptions that it is a “sunsetting” sector. However, the growing global demand for semiconductors has sparked renewed interest, amplified by Singapore’s strong ecosystem where government, industry and schools collaborate to prepare future ready talent. Educational institutions are aligning with industry needs, prioritizing skills like AI and intelligent manufacturing, while proactive planning ensures the workforce remains relevant amid rapid advancements.
I see collaboration as a pivotal driver in this transformation.
How can manufacturers best leverage technology while prioritizing the importance of human skills?
Leaders must understand that technology serves as a complement, not a replacement, to human expertise. Nurturing our talent needs to be on the national agenda. I often say that technological disruption is, in many cases, human disruption. For instance, AI should be viewed as a co-pilot that significantly accelerates human capabilities, rather than as a threat to jobs. Companies that empower their workforce by integrating learning ecosystems into day-to-day operations will be successful. Remember, the value of this industry lies not just in the chips we produce, but in the collective innovation driven by people with the right tools and support systems.
Finally, what is your overall outlook for the sector over the next 12 months? Who will be the winners?
Despite being a small nation, Singapore’s semiconductor industry has always been strong. Singapore began its journey in the semiconductor industry with the establishment of National Semiconductor’s assembly and testing facility in 1968. While global economic volatility persists, there’s also significant resilience and opportunity. For Singapore, we continue to prioritize collaboration across the sector, which is a critical success factor.
As for the winners in the next year, they will be those who can innovate while remaining adaptable. Companies that integrate AI, align workforce skills with future demands and invest in R&D will reap the rewards. Singapore’s inherent strengths in connecting industry, government and education give us a unique edge. Our role as a connector and innovation hub means that we aren’t just competing; we’re helping shape the future of global manufacturing along with our regional neighbors.
Learn more about the value of being adaptable through workforce management tools in our report: Current State of the Global Manufacturing Workforce in 2025 and Beyond.
