New Models of Work in SEA

This policy brief explores how Southeast Asia can better support mid-career workers as artificial intelligence reshapes the region’s labour markets. Drawing on regional consultations across SEA-6 countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand), it highlights how mid-career workers face growing risks to job stability due to systemic barriers such as limited career navigation support, financial constraints, and slow-moving skills frameworks. To address these challenges, resilience must be built at the ecosystem level through coordinated reforms including stronger career health systems, robust transition support, and more future-oriented workforce planning.

This policy brief examines how Southeast Asia’s young workforce is being reshaped by rapid advances in artificial intelligence. Drawing on regional consultations across SEA-6 countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand), it highlights mismatches between education systems and labour market needs, as well as barriers to mobility and resilient employment. The brief proposes a set of policy recommendations to better support young workers. These include reforming education systems, expanding opportunities in human-centric “HEAL” sectors, and strengthening regional labour mobility and social protection frameworks so that AI-driven transformation can lead to increased resiliency for the young workforce.