LKYCIC at the NTUC Labour Research Conference 2026
On 1 October 2026, researchers from the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities (LKYCIC) participated in the sixth NTUC Labour Research Conference, themed Today’s Hopes, Tomorrow’s Possibilities. The conference brought together policymakers, academics, union leaders and industry practitioners to examine emerging issues shaping the future of work and how workers can be supported through technological and workplace transitions.
Participants at the 6th NTUC Labour Research Conference 2026
Growing the next generation of labour researchers
LKYCIC Research Fellows Dr Suhaila Zainal Shah and Dr Sarah Chan were appointed to the inaugural cohort of the Associate Researchers Circle @ Labour Alliance co-laB (ARC @ LAB). Launched at the conference, ARC brings together eight emerging researchers and creates opportunities for them to contribute their expertise to research on key worker and workplace issues, while strengthening Singapore’s pipeline of labour researchers.
Dr Sarah Chan with fellow inaugural ARC members and representatives from the Labour Movement at the launch of ARC @ LAB
Findings from the photovoice component of the project were complemented by results from the digital survey, summarising the digital and AI experiences of older adults across a 6As framework: Adoption, Awareness, Ability, Access, Attitude, and Affordability. One finding showed that high smartphone ownership (about 9 in 10 of survey participants) does not automatically translate into digital adoption in everyday life. The most common uses of digital technologies are for communication and videos (75.1%). Mobile banking (26.3%), online shopping (7.5%) and AI-based tools (4.7%) see limited adoption.
Preparing transport workers for an autonomous future
As part of LKYCIC’s Urban Psychology Lab, Dr Samuel Chng presented findings from A Just Transition on the Road: Impact of Autonomous Vehicles on Singapore Workers, a joint research study by NTUC and LKYCIC examining how autonomous vehicles may reshape jobs, skills and career pathways across Singapore’s transport sector. Drawing on research including a survey of 818 drivers, the study highlights workers’ concerns around job security and barriers to upskilling, and calls for clearer transition pathways, stronger income and training support, and coordinated action to help workers navigate technological change.
Dr Samuel Chng sharing findings from the joint NTUC-LKYCIC study on the impact of autonomous vehicles on transport workers.
Dr Samuel Chng also moderated the panel discussion “The Future of Work and the Labour Movement”, which brought together Ms K. Thanaletchimi, President of NTUC; Mr Patrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC; Mr Stanley Loh, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Manpower; and Ms Pei Ying Chua, Head Economist (Asia Pacific) at LinkedIn. The panel discussed how emerging shifts in work and technology are reshaping workers’ experiences, and how policy, industry and the Labour Movement can respond to these changes.
Dr Samuel Chng moderating the panel discussion on “The Future of Work and the Labour Movement”
Read more about the launch of ARC @ LAB, the joint NTUC-LKYCIC report A Just Transition on the Road, and the research done by LKYCIC’s Urban Psychology Lab led by Dr Samuel Chng.