SINGAPORE – Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expanding its workforce in Singapore, with more than 100 job openings across its cloud business and corporate functions.
The new hires – including in software engineering, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), data science and solutions architecture – will add to the 2,500 workers it currently employs here, the tech giant said at the opening of its new 360,000 sq ft office at IOI Central Boulevard Towers in Marina Bay.
The new AWS Asia-Pacific Hub is part of the firm’s plans to invest an additional $12 billion in cloud infrastructure in Singapore from 2024 to 2028. The firm declined to commit to a hiring timeline.
The investment is one of the largest in AI in Singapore, in addition to the Government’s $1 billion investment in AI announced during Budget 2024.
The new investment will bring the total sum poured in by AWS in Singapore to $23.5 billion since it first set up shop here in 2010.
Speaking at the hub’s official opening on Feb 12, AWS Asean managing director Jeff Johnson said the new sprawling space was designed with collaboration in mind.
“This collaboration isn’t just for AWS employees, teams and builders here, but customers and partners like AI researchers, engineers and universities alike, to use the space collectively to drive digital transformation, acceleration, innovation across Singapore and the wider region,” he said.
“AWS’ new regional office in Singapore represents our deepening commitment to Singapore and serves as a strategic hub for digital transformation across Asean.”
The anchor tenant at IOI Central Boulevard Towers, AWS spans eight floors with space for up to 3,000 employees – more than three times the size of its first regional office at Asia Square in Marina View, which opened in 2021.
The new hub houses more than 100 teams previously scattered across a number of offices in Singapore. These teams include Amazon.sg, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Advertising, Prime Video and AWS.
AWS said its ongoing investment is expected to contribute around $23.7 billion to the Republic’s gross domestic product (GDP) and support more than 12,300 jobs through 2028 within AWS and businesses that use its cloud services.
AWS’ services are deeply entrenched in Singapore’s digital services, providing the foundation for thousands of online platforms such as Trust Bank, Grab, PayNow, academic institutions and public sector entities.
Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary said the opening of AWS’ Asia-Pacific regional hub is a significant milestone, not just for AWS, but also for Singapore, as it is testament to the vibrant digital ecosystem here.
“Tech companies such as AWS, with cutting-edge technologies and global expertise, are valuable partners in supporting Singapore’s digital transformation,” Dr Janil said.
One of the key technologies earmarked to propel Singapore’s digital economy is AI.
“With technologies like AI, the boundaries of our productivity can be pushed further and the competitiveness of our industries strengthened,” Dr Janil said.
In 2023, Singapore’s digital economy generated a value-add of $113 billion, equivalent to 17.7 per cent of Singapore’s nominal GDP.
Amid global slowing sales and spending cuts on cloud services, AWS cut hundreds of jobs earlier in 2024. Since 2022, Amazon has reportedly cut more than 27,000 jobs.
It is unclear how many employees in Singapore were affected by the global downsizing.
When asked about the job cuts, Ms Elsie Tan, AWS’ Singapore country manager for the public sector, said there was still a net growth in the size of its workforce – from around 2,000 people in 2021 to about 2,500 at present.
AWS began operations in Singapore in 2008 before introducing cloud computing services in 2010. In 2021, it became the anchor tenant in Asia Square, opening a 100,000 sq ft corporate office spanning three floors.
Source: The Starts Times
