Generative artificial intelligence is expected to influence the working lives of nearly 80 million people across ASEAN, according to a new International Labour Organization study. However, the report finds no evidence so far of large-scale job losses linked to AI.
The study estimates that 22.9% of total employment in ASEAN has more than minimal exposure to GenAI, while only 3.3%, or 11.7 million workers, are in occupations with the highest exposure. Around 67% of jobs remain in occupations with no identified exposure.
AI exposure varies across the region. Singapore has the highest share of exposed workers at 42.2%, followed by the Philippines at 28.1%, Indonesia at 21.7%, Viet Nam at 20.8%, and Thailand at 20.6%.
The report notes that employment in highly exposed occupations is still growing. This suggests that AI is transforming tasks rather than causing immediate widespread job losses. Adoption also remains uneven, with stronger use in technology-focused roles and slower uptake in office and administrative jobs.
Women face higher exposure to GenAI because they are more likely to work in clerical, administrative, and professional roles. Young workers and adults show broadly similar levels of exposure.
The ILO stresses that ASEAN countries need human-centred AI governance, inclusive skills development, support for MSMEs, and stronger regional knowledge-sharing. The report concludes that the future impact of AI will depend less on exposure itself and more on policy choices, investment in human capital, and social protection.
