Almost 80 million people, or 22.9 percent of the employed population in ASEAN countries, work in professions with more than minimal potential exposure to generative artificial intelligence. However, there are currently no signs of mass displacement of workers by this technology, according to a study by the International Labour Organization. Exposure does not mean that employees will lose their jobs. This indicator merely reflects how certain tasks within a specific profession can be automated or altered with the help of generative artificial intelligence. The assessments are based on thorough labor market surveys, interpolation, and regression calculations. A maximum impact is expected for 11.7 million people, which represents 3.3 percent of the region's workers. About 67 percent of workers are employed in sectors where the impact of generative artificial intelligence has not yet been identified. The authors identified financial analysts, web developers, brokers, data entry operators, office and accounting clerks, payroll specialists, human resources workers, and contact center operators as the most vulnerable professions. Despite the active development of the technology, employment in the most exposed professions continues to grow steadily, as the implementation of generative artificial intelligence remains an early and uneven process.

The study covers all eleven ASEAN countries and uses current employment data for the year 2025. Among the nine countries with available comparable data, the highest share of workers exposed to the influence of artificial intelligence was recorded in Singapore, amounting to 42.2 percent. Following in the ranking are the Philippines with a rate of 28.1 percent, Indonesia at 21.7 percent, Vietnam at 20.8 percent, and Thailand at 20.6 percent. The International Labour Organization partially attributed the high figure for the Philippines to the historical orientation of the national economy toward the service sector and information technology. Notably, Singapore also turned out to be the most prepared country in the region for the adoption of new technologies. Experts pointed to its developed digital infrastructure, free access to qualified specialists, and the presence of a comprehensive government strategy. Special attention in the report is given to the gender aspect: women are more than twice as likely as men to be employed in professions with a high level of exposure to generative artificial intelligence. The organization explained this by their high representation in administrative, clerical, and professional positions, whereas researchers found no significant difference between young workers aged 15 to 24 and older age groups.

The lead author of the report, International Labour Organization economist Christian Viegelahn, noted that the ultimate consequences will depend not so much on the level of exposure of specific professions, but rather on the balanced decisions of the authorities. He emphasized that productivity growth directly depends on investments in human capital and social protection, and that labor market outcomes will be determined by policies aimed at preparing workers, enterprises, and institutions. In this regard, the organization recommended that ASEAN countries expand their skills upgrading and retraining programs, paying special attention to women and youth. Other important measures cited include support for small and medium-sized enterprises, the development of social protection, and close policy coordination among the states of the region. Against the backdrop of these findings, it is worth noting recent observations by journalists, who concluded that technology companies have increasingly been explaining staff reductions by the implementation of artificial intelligence, even if their business continues to grow. Earlier, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also accused large companies of using artificial intelligence as a convenient excuse for mass layoffs, emphasizing that over time, the impact of automation on the labor market will only increase.