A recent study commissioned by Amazon Web Services (AWS) reveals promising prospects for workers in the ASEAN region as artificial intelligence (AI) adoption continues to surge.
The research, conducted by Access Partnership, indicates that AI proficiency could lead to a significant increase in salaries and career advancement opportunities, with employers willing to offer over 36% higher pay to individuals equipped with AI skills.
“With a growing number of organizations expected to deepen their use of (artificial intelligence) AI solutions and tools and the continual evolution of AI-driven innovations, there is a need for employers and governments to nurture a proficient workforce capable of steering current and future AI advancements,” Abhineet Kaul, director at Access Partnership, said in a media release.
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The study surveyed nearly 6,700 workers and more than 2,000 employers across ASEAN, explored the impact of AI on the regional workforce. Among the key findings, workers in IT and research and development stand to benefit the most, with potential pay bumps of 49% and 46%, respectively.
The research underscores widespread optimism among ASEAN workers regarding the positive impact of AI skills on their careers. The majority or 97% of respondents anticipate benefits such as increased efficiency, higher job satisfaction, and faster career progression. This sentiment goes beyond generations, with workers across different age groups expressing keen interest in acquiring AI competencies.
Skills gap
Employers are also enthusiastic about the potential of AI to enhance productivity and drive organizational growth. Over 97% of surveyed companies anticipate transitioning into AI-driven entities by 2028, with various departments potentially reaping the rewards. While the IT sector is expected to be the primary beneficiary, other departments such as finance, sales, marketing, and human resources are also poised to harness significant value from AI integration.
The research identifies the banking and financial services industry (BFSI) as leading in AI adoption within the ASEAN region, followed closely by telecommunications and the public sector.
However, the study also highlights a pressing need to address the looming AI skills gap. Despite growing demand, nearly 72% of employers struggle to find AI talent, while 81% express uncertainty about implementing AI training programs.
Recognizing the significance of AI proficiency in shaping the future workforce, stakeholders emphasized the need to accelerate digital skills training across ASEAN. For its part, AWS has already trained over 1.2 million individuals across the region on cloud skills since 2017. However, with the rapid evolution of cloud-enabled technologies like AI, there is a growing need to scale upskilling efforts to ensure organizations can thrive in an AI-dominated landscape.