The International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed that the presence of artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to reshape the dynamics of the world of work for nearly 80 million people in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, recent findings show that the adoption trend of this technology has not yet yielded negative impacts in the form of massive workforce cuts in ASEAN member states.
According to the report, around 22.9 percent of the total workforce in Southeast Asia is now in sectors potentially impacted by automation or AI-assisted technology. Of this figure, only a small portion, approximately 11.7 million workers or 3.3 percent of the total workforce, falls into the category with the highest level of AI exposure, such as financial analysts, multimedia developers, and financial brokers.
The ILO also highlighted that the majority of the region's workforce, or around 67 percent, still occupies positions that are not directly affected by artificial intelligence systems. This indicates that reliance on human roles remains the primary foundation across various industrial sectors in Southeast Asia.
Furthermore, data shows a positive growth trend in jobs with potential AI exposure since 2017. Even after the massive emergence of generative AI in the global market, there has been no evidence of significant disruption to job stability. This phenomenon suggests that AI has so far served more as a productivity aid rather than a complete replacement for human roles in the workplace.
