ILO: Singapore has highest share of AI-exposed jobs in ASEAN, yet ranks as most prepared

BANGKOK — Singapore has the highest share of workers in occupations with more than a minimal degree of potential exposure to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) among ASEAN countries with available data, at 42.2 percent of total employment, according to a new International Labour Organization (ILO) brief released in July 2026. The city-state is also identified as the region’s standout for combining high exposure with high preparedness, supported by advanced digital infrastructure, strong talent availability and a whole-of-government approach. International Labour Organization

The brief, titled Generative AI and labour markets in ASEAN: Significant exposure, limited disruption, uneven preparedness, estimates that 22.9 percent of total ASEAN employment in 2025—nearly 80 million workers—is in occupations with more than minimal GenAI exposure. Only 3.3 percent of the workforce, or about 11.7 million workers, fall into the highest exposure category, while around 67 percent of employment remains in occupations with no identified exposure. International Labour Organization ILO Brief PDF

After Singapore, the Philippines records the next highest share at 28.1 percent, followed by Indonesia (21.7 percent), Viet Nam (20.8 percent) and Thailand (20.6 percent). The ILO attributes Singapore’s elevated figure in part to its knowledge-intensive occupational structure, with professionals, managers, executives and technicians making up a large share of employment and concentration in financial and insurance services, information and communications, and professional services. ILO Brief PDF Yahoo Finance

Despite significant potential for task automation or assistance, the report finds no evidence of large-scale job losses linked to GenAI. Employment in highly exposed occupations has continued to expand across ASEAN. GenAI adoption remains early and uneven, concentrated mainly in technology-intensive and knowledge-intensive roles rather than in many high-exposure clerical and administrative positions. Women are overrepresented in the highest-exposure occupations—more than twice as likely as men—reflecting their concentration in clerical, administrative and certain professional roles. International Labour Organization

The analysis highlights an uneven “preparedness gap.” Singapore stands out as a globally competitive AI ecosystem and the only economy combining the highest exposure with the highest preparedness. Other countries show varying readiness in digital infrastructure, skills, innovation ecosystems and governance. The ILO stresses that future labour market outcomes will depend less on exposure alone than on policy choices to build resilience, including investments in human capital, upskilling and reskilling (with focus on women and youth), support for micro, small and medium enterprises, social protection, and human-centred governance. ILO Brief PDF The Edge Malaysia

“Harnessing the benefits of GenAI requires more than access to technology,” said ILO Economist and lead author Christian Viegelahn. “Productivity gains depend on investments in human capital and social protection.” The brief calls for regional priorities around inclusive skills development, MSME support and knowledge exchange. International Labour Organization

Why this is uncovered

While broader coverage of the ILO’s nearly 80 million ASEAN workers figure has appeared in regional business outlets and wire summaries, the specific finding that Singapore leads both in AI job exposure and preparedness has received limited attention in major global mainstream media, which has focused more on general AI disruption narratives than this granular ASEAN labour-market statistical comparison from the primary ILO brief.