The Singapore campus of James Cook University (JCU in Singapore) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce Singapore (AustCham Singapore) have jointly launched a new workforce strategy playbook.

Titled Decoding the D.N.A.S. of Australian Businesses in Singapore: A workforce strategy playbook for navigating talent management, this playbook aims to provide insights and best practices on how Australian businesses can navigate workforce management in Singapore amidst rapid technological advancements, increasing workforce diversity, and changing workplace arrangements.

By combining insights from published research with the lived experiences of Australian businesses in Singapore, the study captures how firms – ranging from small and mid-sized enterprises to large multinationals – navigate workforce management in one of the world’s most competitive labour markets.

Launched in May 2026, the report was developed by JCU in Singapore’s Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia (CITBA) research team as part of the 2025 AustCham Singapore Business Sentiments Report series. The series seeks to provide timely insights into the evolving business landscape in Singapore and the ASEAN region, while strengthening academia–business collaboration through initiatives such as applied research, business dialogues, and knowledge-sharing events.

“During our discussions with the AustCham Singapore team about issues faced by the business community, talent management kept surfacing as a key concern, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence and digital transformation, changing workforce expectations, skills shortages, and increasing competition for talent across the region,” said Senior Lecturer in Business at JCU in Singapore and Principal Investigator, Dr Tan Sook Rei.

“We also felt Singapore makes an especially meaningful context for the study, as many businesses use it as a springboard for expansion into the ASEAN region. Given how quickly the talent landscape here is evolving, the report aims to provide insights into how organisations – particularly through the perspectives and experiences of AustCham members – are adapting their workforce and talent strategies in response,” Dr Tan added.

The research team looked into how Australian businesses operating in Singapore are responding to evolving workforce challenges and opportunities in an increasingly competitive talent landscape. Their research draws on secondary research and in-depth interviews with AustCham Singapore member leaders across industries and firm sizes, and included senior leaders, managers, supervisors, and business owners, providing diverse perspectives on workforce strategy and talent management practices.

The launch event also brought together industry practitioners and academics who engaged in a panel discussion with industry experts on the future of work in Singapore. Moderated by Dr Ratna Devi Pillai, Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour and Management and a member of the playbook’s research team, the session featured three industry practitioners with diverse professional backgrounds. The discussion complemented and reinforced many of the report’s findings – particularly that talent management should be viewed as an end-to-end journey, that human-centric skills remain critical despite the rise of AI, and that organisations should place stronger emphasis on their employee value proposition in attracting and retaining talent.

“This playbook reflects the value of bringing together industry perspectives and academic expertise to better understand the workforce challenges facing businesses today. Through our continued collaboration with JCU in Singapore, we have been able to glean insights from the experiences of Australian companies operating in Singapore and translate them into strategies and recommendations that can support organisations as they strengthen talent strategies and prepare for the future of work,” says Batya Shulman, Vice President & Purpose Committee Chair at AustCham Singapore.

"As an Australian university in Singapore, James Cook University is proud to support the longstanding relationship between Singapore and Australia. Through this project and other collaborations such as the AustCham Business Sentiments Report series, our researchers apply their expertise to create positive impact for business and the wider community in both countries,” said Professor Carole-Anne Upton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Singapore, James Cook University.

“This marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between CITBA and AustCham Singapore, reflecting our shared commitment to bridging academic research with industry practice. We hope this playbook provides practical and actionable insights for businesses navigating Singapore’s evolving workforce landscape,” said Dr Tan.

Download the Playbook here.

Find out more about the Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia.

Discover further information on areas of research, and research strength at James Cook University in Singapore.

Find out more about the Singapore campus of James Cook University.

Contacts

Dr Tan Sook Rei sookrei.tan@jcu.edu.au

Media: Ms Pinky Sibal pinky.sibal@jcu.edu.au / Ms Hoe Shu Rin shurin.hoe@jcu.edu.au