AI reshapes employment in California and ASEAN, tracking losses and exposure

California has launched a public dashboard that tracks AI-related unemployment claims in near‑real time. The tool, built by the California Policy Lab and the state’s Employment Development Department, records only job losses and relies on outdated occupational codes, limiting its ability to capture AI‑created jobs or productivity gains. Data show a rise in claims among AI‑exposed occupations beginning in late 2022, a period that also saw a broader tech‑sector hiring slowdown, making it hard to separate AI effects from the end of the pandemic‑era boom.

A separate International Labour Organisation (ILO) report finds that almost 80 million workers – about 22.9% of the ASEAN labour force – are employed in jobs with at least minimal exposure to generative AI. Only 3.3% (≈11.7 million) are in occupations with the highest exposure. Singapore registers the highest share of such workers at 42.2%, followed by the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. The study notes limited evidence of large‑scale displacement so far, with AI more likely to augment than replace work. It also highlights a gender gap, as women are over twice as likely as men to hold highly exposed roles. The ILO calls for inclusive upskilling, support for SMEs, and regional cooperation to ensure AI benefits are widely shared.