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This is followed by the Philippines at 28.1%, reflecting its service-and IT-oriented economy, Indonesia at 21.7%, Vietnam at 20.8%, and Thailand at 20.6%.
Nearly one in four workers in ASEAN are in occupations potentially exposed to generative AI, but only a small share is in roles facing the highest levels of exposure, according to a new study by the International Labour Organization.
According to the study, GenAI is likely to touch the working lives of nearly 80mn people across the region. However, only a small proportion of workers are in occupations facing the highest levels of exposure.
Published in a report, Generative AI and labour markets in ASEAN: Significant exposure, limited disruption, uneven preparedness, the study looks at how GenAI could affect jobs and labour markets across ASEAN by examining both occupational exposure and early patterns of adoption.
According to ILO estimates for 2025, 22.9% of total employment in ASEAN (equivalent to nearly 80mn workers) is in occupations with more than a minimal degree of potential exposure to GenAI.
But most of these workers are not in roles facing the most intense level of exposure. Instead, they are concentrated in occupations with relatively low or moderate exposure. Only 3.3% of total employment (11.7mn workers), falls under the highest exposure category.
At the same time, around 67% of employment in ASEAN remains in occupations with no identified exposure to GenAI.
In other words, GenAI has the potential to affect a sizeable share of workers across Southeast Asia, but the jobs most exposed to the technology still make up a relatively small part of the labour market.
Breakdown by country
By market, Singapore recorded the highest share of workers with more than minimal GenAI exposure among the nine ASEAN countries with available data. At 42.2% of total employment, its exposure level was well above the regional average.
This may partly reflect Singapore’s knowledge-intensive workforce, the report highlighted. Professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) account for around 64% of employed residents, with many working in sectors such as financial and insurance services, information and communications, and professional services.
This is followed by the Philippines at 28.1%, partly due to its service-oriented economy and the prominence of its information technology and business process management sector. Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand also recorded significant exposure levels, at 21.7%, 20.8% and 20.6% respectively.
Still, the ILO stressed that exposure does not automatically mean disruption. Occupational exposure only shows where jobs and tasks could be affected; actual workplace change depends on how quickly workers and employers adopt and integrate AI tools.
For now, adoption remains uneven across ASEAN, although it is rising. The share of people using a GenAI product increased across all countries between the first and second half of 2025, with particularly strong uptake in Singapore and Vietnam. However, usage in several ASEAN countries remains below the global average.
The report also found little evidence so far of broad-based employment decline in GenAI-exposed occupations. In fact, employment in occupations with at least minimal potential exposure rose from around 66mn workers in 2017 to 74mn in 2022, and 80mn in 2025.
The ILO cautioned that this does not mean GenAI is driving job growth. Rather, it reflects broader shifts already underway in ASEAN economies, including digitalisation, growing demand for service-sector and knowledge-intensive work, and labour force growth.
For now, ILO affirmed, the story appears to be less about jobs disappearing, and more about jobs changing. Many exposed roles still depend on human judgement, communication and interpersonal skills. While GenAI can automate or support certain tasks, its wider impact on employment may only become clearer once the technology is integrated into workplaces at scale.
To that effect, it said policy choices will be critical in shaping how ASEAN manages the transition. It outlined five regional priorities:
- Strengthening human-centred AI governance,
- Building inclusive labour market policies,
- Supporting enterprise adoption,
- Investing in digital infrastructure and skills, and
- Deepening regional cooperation.
Christian Viegelahn, ILO economist and lead author of the report, said harnessing the benefits of GenAI requires more than access to technology.
“Productivity gains depend on investments in human capital and social protection,” he said. “Ultimately, future labour market outcomes will depend less on exposure alone than on the policy choices to build the preparedness and resilience of workers, enterprises and institutions.”
The findings come ahead of AI Appreciation Day on 16 July, an annual observance that recognises the growing role of artificial intelligence in daily life and work.
It is not a celebration of AI hype, nor a call to fear the technology. Rather, it offers a moment to reflect on how quickly AI is being adopted, how it is changing human routines, and what responsibilities come with building and using these systems.
READ MORE: AI adoption is rising but only 23% of organisations surveyed say their workforce is fully ready
Lead image / Generative AI and labour markets in ASEAN report
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