49% of Singapore Workers Fear AI and Automation Could Cost Them Their Jobs

Nearly one in two Singapore employees believe their jobs could be affected by restructuring, automation or cost-cutting this year, according to recruitment firm Morgan McKinley's 2026 Workplace Trends Report. The 49% figure places Singapore well above the global average of 37%, signalling deep anxiety in a workforce that has otherwise enjoyed 18 consecutive quarters of employment growth.

The report, which surveyed 2,799 employees and 214 employers across multiple markets in late 2025, found that 85% of worried workers would immediately start searching for another role, while 64% planned to learn new skills or gain qualifications. Singapore's AI adoption rate — among the highest in Asia — is driving much of this unease, as companies across banking, logistics, and professional services accelerate automation pilots.

Interestingly, the report also found that Singapore remains one of the most office-centric workforces globally. About 37% of employees work from the office five days a week — more than double the global average of 17%, and second only to Hong Kong at 60%. This gap between employer mandates and employee preferences (only 9% globally would choose full-time office work) adds another layer of tension to workplace dynamics already strained by AI-driven change.

Why it matters for Singapore: The findings come as Singapore pushes aggressively to position itself as a global AI hub through initiatives like the National AI Strategy 2.0 and Smart Nation programmes. While government schemes like SkillsFuture and NTUC's training partnerships aim to cushion the transition, the gap between upskilling programmes and workers' lived anxiety appears to be widening. The 49% figure serves as a reality check: AI readiness isn't just about infrastructure investment — it's about managing human capital transitions at a scale Singapore hasn't attempted before.