5 Things To Know About How GenAI Affects 80 Million Workers Across Southeast Asia

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A comprehensive report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reveals that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) impacts the working lives of approximately 80 million individuals across Southeast Asia

Despite widespread technological integration, the study emphasises that only a minimal fraction of the regional workforce faces severe exposure, with no evidence of immediate large-scale job losses. Published under the title Generative AI and labour markets in ASEAN: Significant exposure, limited disruption, uneven preparedness, the study evaluates the potential occupational transformation across all 11 ASEAN member states.

Here are five crucial insights every Malaysian worker and employer needs to know about this regional labour transformation.

1. Most workers face minimal automation risks

The ILO report estimates that 22.9% of the region's workforce, or nearly 80 million people, work in occupations with at least a minimal degree of GenAI exposure.

However, only 3.3% of the workforce, representing 11.7 million workers, occupies roles in the highest exposure category where tasks face direct automation.

Meanwhile, roughly 67% of ASEAN's total workforce remains concentrated in manual, agricultural, or physical occupations that feature no measurable AI exposure whatsoever.

2. Singapore and the Philippines lead regional exposure rankings

Occupational exposure varies significantly across ASEAN member states based on their primary economic drivers.

Singapore records the highest proportion of exposed workers at 42.2%, driven by its knowledge-intensive financial and professional services sectors.

The Philippines ranks second at 28.1% due to its massive business process outsourcing and information technology sectors. Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand follow with exposure rates ranging between 20% and 22%.

3. Women face twice the exposure risk of men

The study uncovers a striking gender disparity across the regional workforce. Women are more than twice as likely as men to occupy jobs with high GenAI exposure, primarily because they hold a disproportionate share of clerical, secretarial, and administrative positions.

Conversely, young workers aged 15 to 24 exhibit exposure levels similar to older adult workers, although entry-level hires face increasing pressure as basic task workflows become automated.

4. Workplace adoption remains early and uneven

While theoretical exposure is high, actual workplace integration remains in its infancy across most industries. GenAI usage stays heavily concentrated within technology-intensive and software engineering firms.

Standard administrative offices demonstrate surprisingly slow adoption rates despite their high task vulnerability. The study highlights a widening preparedness gap, with Singapore leading as a globally competitive AI ecosystem while other member states struggle with digital infrastructure and talent availability.

5. These findings are a reassurance for Malaysians

For Malaysia, where the government is aggressively expanding digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence adoption under national development plans, the findings offer both reassurance and a strategic roadmap.

Local employment in tech-adjacent and service sectors continues to grow alongside AI integration rather than shrink, echoing broader regional patterns.

To ensure inclusive economic benefits, the ILO calls on regional policymakers to prioritise human-centred governance, expand reskilling programmes specifically tailored for women and youth, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthen cross-border talent coordination.

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