SINGAPORE – Up to 30 per cent of the 60,000 jobs in the aviation industry could be redesigned over the next five years, because of factors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and a push towards greater sustainability, a new report has shown.
These figures were from the aviation jobs transformation report that was launched on July 18 at the OneAviation careers and education fair.
To help workers and employers deal with these changes, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will set aside $200 million for a manpower fund.
The money will be used to support unions, aviation companies and education providers to better attract, develop and retain the aviation workforce, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling at the fair.
This sum is part of the $1 billion investment announced by CAAS in March to support the development of the Changi air hub.
The year-long manpower study – which was commissioned in 2024 by CAAS and Workforce Singapore (WSG) – is a first for the aviation industry here.
The report took stock of the current workforce and identified future trends, before coming up with recommendations to strengthen the future workforce, said CAAS in a press release.
The study found that there will be six trends affecting jobs and skills within the sector over the next five years: digitalisation, AI, automation, changing consumer preferences, shifting workforce preferences, and sustainability.
These trends will affect up to 30 per cent of existing jobs, and workers will need to upskill or reskill themselves, the report said.
Speaking to over 40 aviation employers, aviation educational institutions and partner organisations at the fair, Ms Sun said these trends present an opportunity for the industry to redesign and create new job roles that are interesting and purposeful.
Ms Sun pointed to baggage operators as a role that could see changes.
At present, operators can spend more than half of their time towing baggage between places, which could increase human fatigue and reduce productivity.
But when autonomous vehicles (AVs), which are already in advanced trials, are rolled out for baggage towing operations, these operators will no longer have to manually transport baggage, she said, adding that they will be able to focus on last-mile equipment operations within the aircraft stand.
Senior Minister of State for Transport and National Development Sun Xueling (left, in blue) touring the exhibition at the opening of the OneAviation Careers & Education Fair 2025 on July 18.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Their roles could also transition to supervising these AVs remotely, monitoring AV fleets and troubleshooting issues that arise.
CAAS said it also plans to help the aviation workforce by working with educational institutions to develop study programmes to equip Singaporeans with skills needed in these new jobs, and providing internships or in-house training.
On July 18, CAAS inked an agreement with nine institutes of higher learning – including the Singapore University of Technology and Design, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) – to encourage and allow young people and mid-career jobs seekers to enter the industry.
CAAS will also work with industry, unions and the research community to accelerate investments in technologies that can be deployed across the aviation ecosystem to raise productivity.
During the careers fair, the agency also signed an agreement with national programme AI Singapore, airport operator Changi Airport Group (CAG), ground handler Sats and national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) to jointly promote and invest in AI and technology to boost labour productivity.
Besides CAAS’ efforts, WSG also intends to develop an aviation sector job redesign playbook that will identify skills needed for emerging roles and set out steps for how jobs can be redesigned.
On when these efforts will take effect, CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan said these plans are tied to the completion of Changi Airport Terminal 5 (T5).
“Because when T5 opens, you will see a one-time jump in terms of our environments and expertise – you cannot imagine us running (the airport) the way we (currently) run,” he added. T5 is slated to open in the mid-2030s.
But Mr Han said that there is a more immediate five-year plan to transform at least 30 per cent of the jobs, so that the workforce can move to T5.
“You can’t be ready the day before the move. You must have already transformed the jobs and tried them out at Terminals 1 to 4 before you make the transition,” he added.
More than 200 companies contributed insights to the study, noted CAAS.
In developing the report, the authority conducted detailed workshops with key companies such as security company Certis Group, airport operator CAG, ground handlers dnata and Sats, SIA Engineering Company as well as SIA Group which operates SIA and low-budget carrier Scoot.
Ms Tan Chee Wei, chief human capital officer for Sats, said the company views the report’s findings as a way to understand areas of improvement to make their employees’ jobs more interesting.
She cited an example of customer service officers – whose jobs may be adjusted with the roll-out of technologies – and how they will be given tasks that require them to coordinate resources across teams, beyond their current passenger service roles.
