AI could cost 28 million jobs
He added that to achieve the same level of output, Asean’s six largest economies will need 28 million fewer workers.
Singapore could see the biggest relative impact, with up to 21 per cent of its workforce displaced. Vietnam and Thailand are next in line, with 14 per cent and 12 per cent of jobs displaced, respectively.
Indonesia will see about 9.5 million jobs impacted. Malaysia, 1.2 million jobs impacted.
The study predicts that over a 10-year period, the competing effects of job displacement and creation will offset each other. However, many of these new jobs are likely to be created in areas different from those where they are being displaced.
As many as 6.6 million workers across the bloc’s six largest economies will have to adapt their skills and forge a new career path to remain productively employed.
The study reveals that 41 per cent of those in displaced jobs are “acutely lacking” the IT skills that new jobs will be demanding. Almost 30 per cent lack “interactive skills” that will be needed for future job openings, such as negotiation, persuasion and customer service skills.
Just over 25 per cent also lack “foundational skills”, like active learning, reading and writing skills.
“This will require all stakeholders – businesses, governments and educators – to work together to ensure the region’s current and future workforce are picking up skills that go beyond just technical knowledge. They need skills like problem solving, design and critical thinking, leadership, collaboration, conflict resolution and empathy. In a digital future, where everyone will have access to the same data and information, these skills will be the key differentiator between being employable or not,” Naveen said.
The report suggests a range of training approaches are needed, including greater commitment to on-the-job training, more flexible online courses and work experience schemes to complement or even, in some cases, substitute for a formal school and tertiary education.
“It’s not an exception for Vietnam. The digital transformation is no long a vision, it has become the reality,” said Luong Le Thuy Country Manager and General Director, Cisco Vietnam.
The challenge for Vietnam was that low-cost labour made up the majority of jobs in the country.
“The Government needs to have some solution because this is going to be a really big challenge for the society,” she said.