{
  "id": 17307678,
  "title": "‘I’m terrified’: AI comes for Southeast Asia’s graduate jobs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/im-terrified-ai-comes-for-southeast-asias-graduate-jobs",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T00:00:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3372752/im-terrified-ai-comes-southeast-asias-graduate-jobs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Graduate job seekers in Southeast Asia are feeling the impact of artificial intelligence, with many fearing for their career prospects. Nafeesa Azman, a 24-year-old Malaysian marketing graduate, has applied for hundreds of jobs without success, as AI-generated content increasingly replaces human roles. Natthanicha Intawong, a final-year media arts student in Bangkok, expresses terror at the prospect of entering a jobs market already being reshaped by AI. Joshua Nai, a Singaporean animation graduate, abandoned his gaming dreams after witnessing the prevalence of AI-generated artwork, stating it as a \"slap in the face\" to human creativity. Across the region, nearly 80 million Southeast Asian workers, or over one-fifth of the workforce, are expected to be affected by AI. While the International Labour Organization (ILO) has not yet observed large-scale job losses, the first effects are being felt by graduates in routine tasks, such as note-taking and data compilation, which AI can now perform more efficiently and cheaply. In Singapore, the share of job-seeking graduates finding work within six months of their exams fell to 83.4% in 2025 from 87.1% in 2024. The Philippines and Indonesia are also concerned about AI's potential to replace workers in the business process outsourcing sector and increase youth unemployment, respectively. For young people without means to adapt their education, catching up to the AI era is becoming increasingly challenging.",
  "summary": "Nafeesa Azman has applied for hundreds of jobs over the past two months, yet the 24-year-old Malaysian marketing graduate is yet to find a permanent role that pays what she needs or uses the skills she spent years, and a good deal of money, developing. Natthanicha Intawong, a final-year media arts student in Bangkok, describes the terror many of her peers feel as they prepare to enter a jobs…",
  "key_points": [
    "AI replacing graduate jobs in Southeast Asia, causing fear among job seekers",
    "Nearly 80 million workers, 20% of workforce, at risk of AI displacement",
    "Singapore graduate job-finding rate drops to 83.4% in 2025 from 87.1% in 2024"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The displacement of routine tasks by automated content signals a tightening labor market that disproportionately threatens the career entry points and creative aspirations of Southeast Asia's newest professionals.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}