Introduction of the Skills and Workforce Development Agency Bill

Overview

1. The Ministry of Manpower introduced the Skills and Workforce Development Agency Bill for First Reading in Parliament on 8 April 2026. The Bill sets out the legislative framework to establish the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) to address our workforce challenges in the years ahead. 

2. SWDA is a new statutory board formed through the merger of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG), under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It will be jointly overseen by MOM and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Ms Dilys Boey, the current Chief Executive of WSG, will be appointed as the Chief Executive of SWDA.

3. Over the past decade, SSG and WSG have made significant achievements serving Singaporeans and employers in the areas of jobs and skills. SWDA combines the strengths that both agencies have built up over the past 10 years into a single agency. This is a deliberate move to meet new demands and to create capabilities to serve Singaporeans and employers better in an evolving economy. 

Seamless and integrated jobs and skills support for workers

4. SWDA will provide a single touchpoint for Singaporeans to access the full suite of career guidance, skills training and job matching support. With combined data on skills and jobs, workers can receive timely and personalised insights and support to make informed decisions on their careers and skills development. With more comprehensive and personalised services and programmes catering to different career needs, SWDA will empower workers throughout their careers at different life stages, beyond support during career setbacks or transitions.

• For fresh graduates: Attachment and traineeship programmes will give fresh graduates concrete work experience and exposure in growth roles. SWDA will also offer career guidance to help our youth identify potential career pathways aligned with their skills and aspirations. 

• For mid-career workers facing transitions: Enhanced career guidance, job matching and reskilling support will help them update and align their skills with current market demands.  This includes personalised career plans, labour market navigation and connections to new prospects.

• For senior workers: Tailored career matching to connect them with opportunities where their competencies, experience and networks are valued. SWDA will develop and scale solutions that support longer, multi-stage careers, including fractional and flexible work.

Stronger partnership with employers in workforce development

5. Combining skills intelligence with labour market data will give businesses clearer, deeper insights to adapt faster to changing needs. This in turn allows for more relevant and timely training, helping employers to groom and access the talent that they need. As job roles and business models continue to shift, SWDA will support businesses in job redesign, workforce transformation and capability development. 

Develop an ecosystem of training and career and employment services providers

6. SWDA will strengthen the ecosystem of training, career and employment services providers by raising quality standards, spurring innovation, and fostering collaboration to deliver new workforce solutions. From the ongoing pilots under the Alliance for Action on Advancing Career & Employment Services (AfA-ACES), SWDA will develop a more capable ecosystem to support both workers and employers.

Conclusion

7. The formation of SWDA reflects our commitment to invest in our people. SWDA will play a central role in catalysing the necessary shifts to strengthen our workforce amidst an evolving landscape, and continue to build on the SkillsFuture movement and the Career Health SG initiative. SWDA will support every Singaporean across their careers, and help employers navigate transformation and meet their workforce needs with greater confidence.