Singapore’s Home Team is adopting artificial intelligence and expanding its foreign talent pool to address persistent manpower shortages in critical services, such as emergency response.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is revaluating how it recruits and deploys talent considering Singapore’s declining birth rate and fierce competition for skilled workers, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo during the Committee of Supply debates in Parliament on Tuesday.

Teo highlighted the urgency of these challenges and noted that the Home Team faces increasing demands amid complex threats.

“Overall, the Home Team has achieved good outcomes for our people. These are reflected in how Singaporeans view the Home Team positively and hold our officers in high regard,” she said.

AI to boost efficiency in fire safety and prison watch

In a bid to enhance efficiency, the Home Team is rolling out AI-driven solutions to improve operational effectiveness.

One key initiative is the Targeted On-Site Inspection Tool, which uses AI to assess the likelihood of fire safety violations in commercial and industrial properties.

This tool will allow the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to conduct more targeted inspections by analysing historical inspection reports, and aims to optimise resources and ensure compliance. Field trials are expected in the coming months.

Meanwhile, in the prison system, authorities are piloting a life signs monitoring system to track inmates’ vital signs remotely. This technology enables prison officers to respond swiftly to incidents such as falls or irregular heart rates – an increasingly critical function given the rising number of elderly inmates.

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Criminals are turning to AI, but so is law enforcement

As AI becomes more sophisticated, criminals are exploiting it for nefarious purposes, such as creating deepfake scams and counterfeit content. In response, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) has developed AlchemiX, an AI algorithm designed to verify the authenticity of audio and video recordings, Teo said.

To bolster AI capabilities, HTX also launched the Home Team AI Movement last year, with an ambitious goal of training and hiring 300 AI specialists by the end of 2025. Alongside this, an AI Governance Framework has been introduced to ensure that AI applications adhere to legal and ethical standards.

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Singapore tackles manpower gap with foreign hires

Despite competitive salaries and expanded career pathways, local recruitment for SCDF’s Emergency Medical Services remains insufficient. Over the past five years, demand for EMS has surged by nearly 30%, yet Singapore struggles to attract enough trained paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

Recognising the shortfall, SCDF will begin hiring foreign EMS personnel starting March. The move aims to plug the gap in specialist roles requiring advanced medical skills – positions that not all Singaporeans may find appealing due to their physically demanding nature.

However, Teo reassured Parliament that maintaining a “strong local core” remains a priority. “All new recruits, regardless of nationality, will undergo rigorous training and accreditation, including to obtain the necessary professional qualifications, in accordance with SCDF’s standards,” she stated.

Singapore expands Auxiliary Police Force

The manpower crunch extends beyond emergency services. Singapore’s Auxiliary Police Forces (APF) have also faced recruitment challenges, with fewer locals opting for these roles due to alternative job opportunities.

To counter this, the MHA has widened its hiring pool. Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) were previously recruited only from Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. However, as of December 2024, APOs are now being sourced from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Philippines, India, and China, making up about 3% of the total APO workforce.

Despite this expansion, Teo emphasised that Singaporeans still form the bulk of APOs and will continue to do so.

Ageing population compounds manpower woes

Beyond immediate recruitment struggles, Singapore’s ageing population presents a long-term challenge for workforce sustainability. The country’s total fertility rate remained at 0.97 in 2024, matching the previous year’s record low.

As fewer young people enter the workforce, the strain on essential services is expected to grow.

In anticipation of these challenges, the Home Team is doubling down on both AI-driven efficiency improvements and strategic foreign hiring to ensure critical services remain robust.