AustCham Singapore and James Cook University (Singapore Campus) Launch Workforce Strategy Playbook for Australian Businesses in Singapore

AustCham Singapore, in partnership with James Cook University (Singapore Campus), is pleased to launch “Decoding the D.N.A.S. of Australian Businesses in Singapore”, a Workforce Strategy Playbook designed to guide Australian businesses in navigating talent management in Singapore’s competitive labour market.

Singapore continues to be a critical regional hub for Australian enterprises, offering access to a skilled, English-speaking workforce. Yet businesses face a triple challenge: skills scarcity, rising costs, and workforce policy constraints. This Playbook addresses these challenges through an action-oriented, full talent lifecycle approach — encapsulated in the D.N.A.S. framework:

• D – Deliberate Attraction: Win the right people through strategic hiring, partnerships, and employer branding.
• N – Nurturing Development: Build skills systematically via technology adoption, mentorship, and structured upskilling.
• A – Authentic People-First Management: Retain talent through clear career pathways, flexible work, and holistic Employee Value Propositions (EVPs).
• S – Smart, Sustainable Work Models: Future-proof work with trust-based leadership, AI co-creation, and experience-driven, purpose-focused practices.

The Playbook also draws on insights from twelve AustCham Singapore members across industries including banking, consulting, maritime, automotive, and legal services, combining evidence-based research with practical, lived experience from the frontlines of Singapore’s labour market. 

“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 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.

📋 Download the Playbook here: http://bit.ly/4ucnCn2 

Acknowledgements: The Playbook was made possible with the insights and contributions of AustCham Singapore members, and through the partnership with Aroca Group, supporting the design of this resource.