Aon survey: 74% of Asia-Pacific firms use AI, 84% don't cut jobs
New data shows AI is adding roles, not eliminating them across the region.
A recent survey by professional services firm Aon offers a nuanced picture of AI's impact on employment across the Asia-Pacific region. The study, which polled 504 companies spanning industries in Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India, found that 74% have already deployed or piloted AI programs. Yet the anticipated wave of job cuts appears less severe than feared: 84% of these firms report using AI to perform specific tasks without completely replacing existing jobs. Only a quarter of respondents expect any form of job displacement due to AI adoption.
Notable high-profile layoffs—like Meta cutting 8,000 jobs globally in May due to AI restructuring, including Singapore-based staff—contrast with the broader trend. Recruiters and industry observers note that many companies are actively creating AI-related roles rather than cutting headcount. For instance, Standard Chartered has announced it will cut over 15% of corporate function roles by 2030, but such examples remain outliers. The survey suggests that, for now, AI is more of a task-augmenting tool than a wholesale job replacement engine across the region.
- 74% of 504 Asia-Pacific companies have deployed or piloted AI programs across industries.
- 84% use AI to perform specific tasks without replacing full jobs; only 25% expect job displacement.
- Survey covers Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Philippines, and India, contrasting with isolated layoff events like Meta's 8,000 cuts.
Why It Matters
Real-world data counters AI-job-loss panic: most firms augment tasks, not replace workers, reshaping talent strategies.