Enhancing Retrenchment Statistics to Capture AI or Automation as Contributing Factors

Mr Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry plans to enhance retrenchment statistics to better capture contributing factors, such as artificial intelligence or automation, instead of under the broad category of business restructuring; and (b) if so, whether a detailed breakdown of such cases by occupational group, particularly among Professionals, Managers and Executives, can be provided.

Ms Jasmin Lau: It is currently difficult to isolate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) or automation as a primary driver of retrenchments as automation is typically implemented as part of broader business transformation or restructuring exercises. The Ministry will continue to study how we can better capture the impact of AI and automation in its retrenchment statistics.