South-East Asia’s workforce could be reshaped by artificial intelligence, with nearly 80 million jobs potentially impacted, but a new report suggests that hasn’t yet led to widespread job losses.
Employment Data Shows No Big Job Cuts So Far
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a report revealing that employment in jobs with the greatest potential for AI to automate or augment tasks has continued to grow since 2017. The ILO analyzed data from 11 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The report highlights that AI could automate or augment tasks in jobs such as customer service representatives (potentially 11 million workers), data entry clerks (9.5 million), and telemarketing workers (3.4 million). However, despite these job changes, the number of people in these roles has actually increased since 2017.
Asean’s Job Market: A Mixed Bag
A study by the World Bank has shown that the share of jobs in Asean countries that are at risk of being automated by AI is higher than the global average. However, the report suggests that the impact of AI on employment will be uneven, with some sectors experiencing significant changes while others remain relatively untouched.
The sectors most likely to be impacted by AI are those that involve repetitive or routine tasks. However, other sectors like healthcare, education, and creative industries may see an increase in demand for skilled workers, potentially offsetting job losses in other areas.
The ILO report emphasizes the need for education and training programs that focus on developing skills relevant to the changing job market.
What this means
For millions of workers in Asean, AI could fundamentally change the nature of their jobs, with some potentially facing significant disruption. However, the data suggests that job losses have not yet occurred on a large scale. As the region’s job market evolves, policymakers and educators must prioritize investments in skills training and education to ensure workers are equipped for the jobs of the future.
