AI Sentiments Remain Mixed in Singapore, but Uncertainty Highest Among Knowledge Workers: ADP Research

20 August, 2025

Companies need to empower their employees to adapt and thrive in the AI era.

Singapore, 20 August 2025 – Sentiments towards the impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace remain mixed in Singapore, according to the latest chapter of ADP Research’s People at Work 2025 Report.

As AI adoption ramps up in Singapore, about one-fifth (19%) of workers are still uncertain about how AI will change their jobs in the coming year. While 16% believe it will bring positive impacts, about one in ten (11%) fear it could replace their jobs, reflecting that Singapore’s workforce is still in the early stages of adapting to AI.

Feelings of uncertainty are most pronounced among knowledge workers (26%), who refer to creative and expertise-driven roles like academics or programmers. They are nearly three times more likely to feel unsure about AI’s impact than those who carry out repetitive tasks (9%). Younger workers aged 18 -26 years old (23%) are also 2.5 times more likely to express uncertainty than older workers aged 55 -64 years old (9%).

"AI is reshaping how Singapore’s workforce sees the future," said Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR, APAC, ADP. "While many recognise AI’s productivity benefits, the uncertainty about its long-term impact on careers remains. It is important for employers to clearly communicate AI strategies, invest in upskilling, and foster employees with the right mindsets so they can confidently navigate – and thrive in – an AI-driven future.”

Key GlobalFindings

The report uncovers a complex range of emotions about AI's effect on jobs across the globe:

Mixed feelings dominate: While 17% of workers strongly agree that AI will positively influence their job in the next year, and 33% agree, overall feelings are mixed. Only 1 in 10 workers strongly agree to feeling scared that AI will replace their job.
Hope and concerns in tandem: Interestingly, 27% of workers that believe AI will positively impact their jobs also fear that technology might replace them. For example, markets with the most optimistic outlook on AI, such as Egypt or India, also have the highest share of workers fearing replacement. This indicates that AI evokes both excitement about its potential and concerns of its ultimate effects.
The unknown reinforces anxiety: A significant portion of people (44% combined agree/strongly agree) have no idea how AI will change their jobs. This uncertainty can contribute to anxiety, with some markets showing a large share of workers who fear replacement also having a large share who are unsure about AI's impact.
Regional differences: The Middle East/Africa region shows the highest percentage of workers strongly believing AI will positively influence their job (27%), while Japan and Sweden show the lowest (4% and 6% respectively). People in Europe (11%) are the least likely to think that AI will positively impact their job in the next year, compared to 13% in North America, 16% in APAC, 19% in Latin America and 27% in the Middle East/Africa.

Differences by Industry and Work Type

Globally, the report revealed a variety of sentiments about how different sectors, work types and demographics respond to AI:

Early adopters are more optimistic: People working in technology services, finance, insurance, and information sectors are more likely to have a positive outlook on AI's impact but also express higher concerns about being replaced. The sectors prize efficiency and competitive advantage, which AI can enhance.
Human-centric sectors show caution: Industries heavily reliant on human interactions, such as healthcare and social assistance, express greater concerns about AI's impact.
Age: Younger workers (18-26 and 27-39) are more likely to show both optimism and concern about AI, considering its long-term effects on their careers. Late-career workers (55+) tend to show more indifference, believing AI will have little impact on their remaining working years.
Stress and job seeking: Workers who fear being replaced by technology are twice as likely to report experiencing high stress at work. Additionally, over 30% of people who strongly believe AI could replace them are actively seeking new employment, compared to 16% of those less concerned.

The full People at Work report is available for free download here

For more insights and analysis on the world of work visit www.ADPresearch.com

"People at Work 2025" Report Series Methodology

The 'People at Work 2025' report series is built on the ADP Research Global Workforce Survey, a robust study conducted regularly since 2015. The survey, designed by ADP Research's team of analysts, gathers information about the labor market from the perspective of workers themselves, providing insights that can improve the world of work by better understanding worker sentiment and expectations.

Based on survey data from nearly 38,000 working adults in 34 markets across six continents, "People at Work 2025" features a representative sample of the global workforce to provide regional and market-to-market comparisons of worker sentiment in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America.

Respondents come from a wide variety of industries, educational backgrounds, on-site and remote work environments and skill sets. They represent a range of management and individual contributor roles, working for employers of all sizes.

A unique attribute of the "People at Work 2025" report series is its measurement of worker sentiment in granular detail across worker types using a proprietary methodology developed by ADP Research. In addition to demographic and employer characteristics, survey respondents are classified by the type of work they do – knowledge, skilled task, or cyclical – regardless of industry.

"People at Work's" ability to gather sentiment along these different worker and geographical dimensions provides employers with a fine-tuned and granular view of the global workforce that they can leverage to better understand their workforces and drive growth through data-driven talent decisions.

Each report will pair global trends with market-by-market insights on workplace topics ranging from artificial intelligence and workers holding multiple jobs to get by, to wage trends and career development.

About ADP Research

The mission of ADP Research is to make the future of work more productive through data-driven discovery. Companies, workers, and policymakers rely on our finely tuned data and unique perspective to make informed decisions that impact workplaces around the world.

About ADP (NASDAQ: ADP)

ADP has been shaping the world of work with innovation and expertise for more than 75 years. As a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, ADP continuously aims to solve complex business challenges for our clients and their workers. Always Designing for People means ADP focuses on people, leveraging our unparalleled data insights and innovative technology to elevate human potential. More than 1.1 million clients across 140+ countries trust ADP’s unique expertise and exceptional service to support their people and drive their businesses forward. Learn more at ADP.com

ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People, and ADP Research are trademarks of ADP, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

ADP Media Contact:

Trisha Koh
Archetype Singapore
adphubap@archetype.co

Ying Wang
APAC PR & Brand Voice Manager, ADP
ying.wang@ADP.com