ILO Sees AI Reshaping 80 Million Asean Jobs as Only 3.3% Face Highest Exposure
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 10
ILO Sees AI Reshaping 80 Million Asean Jobs as Only 3.3% Face Highest Exposure
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 10
Summary
Nearly 80 million workers in Asean—22.9% of total employment—are in jobs where AI could automate or assist at least some tasks, the International Labour Organization said.
The ILO said there is still little evidence of large-scale job cuts, framing AI as more likely to reshape tasks than eliminate roles across the region.
About 11.7 million workers, or 3.3% of total employment, fall into the highest AI-exposure category, indicating the most direct disruption risk is concentrated in a smaller slice of the workforce.
Roughly 67% of employment remains in occupations with no identified AI exposure, suggesting most Southeast Asian jobs are still outside the technology's immediate reach.
With women twice as exposed to AI, will this tech revolution widen the gender gap in Southeast Asia?
As AI 'freezes' entry-level hiring, how can young workers secure their first job?
Generative AI and the ASEAN Workforce: How 80 Million Jobs Face Transformation, Disparity, and Opportunity
Overview
Generative AI is rapidly transforming the labor market across ASEAN, with nearly one in four workers potentially affected. The impact varies widely between countries, depending on their preparedness and policies. Singapore stands out with the highest share of workers in AI-exposed jobs, supported by strong digital infrastructure, a skilled talent pool, and a unified government strategy. However, the effects of GenAI are not evenly distributed, falling more heavily on women and new labor market entrants. This uneven exposure highlights the importance of targeted policies and readiness to ensure that the benefits and challenges of AI are managed fairly across the region.