TLDR: A new report from ADP, ‘People at Work 2025’, indicates that 26% of knowledge workers in Singapore are uncertain about AI’s impact on their jobs, a figure nearly three times higher than those in routine roles. While some workers anticipate benefits from AI, a significant portion, especially younger professionals, express concerns about job displacement and overall uncertainty, leading to increased workplace anxiety and a higher likelihood of seeking new employment.
A recent study by ADP Research, titled ‘People at Work 2025’, has brought to light a significant level of uncertainty among Singapore’s knowledge workers regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on their careers. The report, published on August 20, 2025, reveals that a notable 26% of knowledge workers in Singapore feel uncertain about how AI will affect their roles in the coming year. This rate is almost three times higher than the 9% observed among workers in repetitive or routine job functions.
The study highlights a mixed sentiment towards AI within the Singaporean workforce. While 16% of workers in Singapore anticipate that AI will positively influence their jobs, 11% express a direct fear of job displacement due to AI integration. Furthermore, nearly one in five (19%) remain undecided on AI’s future implications for their work.
Younger professionals, specifically those aged 18 to 26, appear particularly affected by this uncertainty. The report indicates that 23% of employees in this age bracket are unsure about AI’s effect on their roles, making them 2.5 times more likely to express such uncertainty compared to workers nearing retirement age (55–64).
Globally, the ‘People at Work 2025’ report surveyed nearly 38,000 working adults across 34 markets. It found that 17% of workers worldwide strongly believe AI will positively impact their jobs in the next year, with an additional 33% agreeing somewhat. Conversely, one in ten workers globally strongly fear that AI will replace their jobs. A striking 44% of respondents admitted they simply do not know how AI will affect their work, a level of uncertainty that ADP links to rising anxiety in the workplace.
Interestingly, the study notes that feelings of hope and fear often coexist. Approximately 27% of those who expect AI to improve their work also harbor concerns that the technology could ultimately eliminate their positions. Regional sentiments vary, with the Middle East and Africa showing the highest confidence (27% strongly believing in AI’s benefits), while countries like Japan (4%) and Sweden (6%) report the lowest optimism. The Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, falls in the middle, with 16% strongly expecting positive outcomes from AI integration.
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The report also underscores the tangible behavioral consequences of AI-related fear. Workers who strongly believe AI might take their jobs are twice as likely to report high levels of stress at work. Moreover, they are nearly twice as likely to be actively seeking new employment, with 30% of concerned workers looking for new jobs compared to 16% of those less worried. This suggests that addressing AI uncertainty is crucial not only for employee well-being but also for talent retention within organizations.
