The iron rice bowl is still sturdy, but demands on Singapore's public service have changed.

Synopsis: Every first Monday of the month, listen to the Work Talk podcast to help you work smarter, think deeper and get ahead in your work life.

With 152,000 employees across 16 ministries and more than 40 agencies, the public service is the biggest department in town.  

It reports to the government, but has a higher boss - Singaporeans who scrutinise its performance and spending. Why would somebody want to be a public servant?  Can you have a good public service career without a degree? Will the public service ever lay off workers in this era of AI disruption?  

We take on these questions, and take a look at its bigger challenges and mission.

Join host Krist Boo and the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service - Chan Chun Sing - for this 31st episode of Work Talk.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:43 What has changed for the public service in recent years?

7:13 Can a rank-and-file public servant make a difference?

10:11 Is joining the public service without a degree a career non-starter?

11:12 Will we ever see layoffs in the public service?

17:27 Can a mid-career jobseeker find success in the public sector?

Produced by: Krist Boo (kristb@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim

Edited by: Amirul Karim

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