A survey of Singapore employers found human sign-off remained required in 85% of nearly 3,000 AI-related human resources use cases, with recruitment the most common application, The Straits Times reported.
The newspaper said the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) surveyed 1,000 employers in June and July 2026. Forty-nine percent used artificial intelligence (AI) for recruitment and candidate selection, while 45% applied it to employee performance management. The reported shares were 26% for compensation decisions and 15% for employee exits.
The 85% figure covered use cases reported by 655 employers and refers to cases requiring human confirmation or sign-off, according to The Straits Times. The newspaper said automated handling was more common for repetitive work, including reviewing résumés and assessing skills.
Employers’ concerns included the risk that over-reliance on AI could erode HR skills, uncertainty about when to rely on AI instead of professional judgment, and responsibility for AI errors, the newspaper reported.
In an Oct. 29 speech, Singapore Minister of State for Manpower Foo Cexiang said AI can help HR teams process information and identify potential matches, while employers remain responsible for decisions about people. “AI can give us a second pair of eyes,” Foo said.
Singapore’s Workplace Fairness Act passed through two bills in 2025. The Ministry of Manpower says the law is targeted to take effect at the end of 2027 and will then prohibit adverse employment decisions based on specified protected characteristics.
SNEF’s Sept. 24 release outlined a planned People-centred AI Transformation for HR initiative, with starter kits, training and funding support. The Tripartite Workgroup said its five recommendations collectively aspire to benefit more than 2 million workers, support at least 2,000 enterprises and build the capabilities of 20,000 HR professionals and people leaders. SNEF said the National Trades Union Congress would publish an HR AI playbook in the first quarter of 2027.
