An analysis by the International Labor Organization has found that the Philippines is among the ASEAN economies most exposed to generative artificial intelligence, saying that 21 to 28 percent of jobs in selected countries in the region with comparable data are exposed to GenAI, and the country sits “at the upper end” of that range because of its service-oriented economy and exposure to information technology and business process management.
A small share of jobs in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand – about 3 to 4 percent – face a higher risk of displacement.
“The vast majority face partial task automation, meaning work will evolve rather than disappear,” ILO specialists Phu Huynh and Felix Weidenkaff said.
Clerical roles are the most exposed. In the Philippines, 93.7 percent of clerical jobs are affected, with 37.8 percent falling into the highest risk category. These include routine office tasks such as data entry and record keeping.
Exposure is also high in services, particularly finance and insurance, where nearly nine in 10 jobs are affected. Women face higher exposure because they are more concentrated in clerical and administrative roles. Workers with higher education levels are also more exposed, as many professional tasks involving documentation, analysis, and reporting can be automated or augmented.
The authors, however, did offer some hope, as “high exposure does not necessarily mean job loss and could instead lead to productivity gains and better jobs,” they said.
The ILO said ASEAN governments need to manage the AI shift through human-centered policies, including safeguards against discrimination, skills training, career development support, and better labor market data.
“As Gen AI across ASEAN will likely transform occupational roles and tasks, critical measures including upskilling and reskilling initiatives, employment facilitation services, career development support, and the provision of timely, robust labor market intelligence are needed,” the authors said.
The ILO also called for tripartite cooperation among governments, employers, and workers to shape how AI transforms workplaces.
For the Philippines, the shift presents a dual challenge, as the same service sectors that drive growth are also the most exposed to change.
When it comes to artificial intelligence, exposure can be a double edged sword, which is a weapon that needs to be wielded properly and with discernment, if it is to result in a net benefit instead of a net loss to the user. If our government, along with the private sector, can take the time to study this tool that has as much potential to do good as it has to do harm, Filipinos can hopefully be among the first to maximize it, instead of being cut apart by AI.*
