The world must build a lifelong learning system now to upskill and reskill workers.
Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said doing so will make it easier to bounce back from downturns in the future.
He was speaking at the inaugural Global Lifelong Learning Summit.
Mr Tharman said an effective system should uplift mid-career workers, those whose jobs are at risk because of automation, as well as those in the SME sector.