Entrepreneurs are expected to generate the next billion jobs by 2030, rather than artificial intelligence [1, 2].
This shift in employment drivers is critical as automation threatens to displace millions of workers, potentially creating economic instability across the ASEAN region.
Analysts said that the next billion jobs will emerge in high-job-multiplier sectors. These roles will be driven by entrepreneurial activity instead of AI-led automation [1, 2]. This focus on entrepreneurship is intended to generate productive employment to offset the risks posed by emerging technologies.
The urgency for this transition is underscored by the scale of potential displacement. In Southeast Asia, an estimated 164 million workers could see their jobs affected by AI by 2030 [1]. On a global scale, some surveys said that artificial intelligence could eliminate 1.4 billion jobs over the next decade [3].
While AI continues to scale, the infrastructure required to support it demands massive investment. Three leading tech companies are projected to spend over U.S.$120 billion on data-center expansion in 2025 [4]. However, the growth of these data centers does not necessarily translate to the mass employment of the general workforce.
By prioritizing entrepreneurs, the Southeast Asian region aims to create a sustainable labor market. The strategy focuses on sectors where human-led business creation can absorb the labor force displaced by automation [1, 2].
“The next billion jobs will be generated in high‑job‑multiplier sectors.”
The tension between AI efficiency and human employment is creating a strategic pivot in Southeast Asia. While the global tech industry invests billions in infrastructure, the regional focus is shifting toward 'job-multiplier' entrepreneurship to prevent mass unemployment and maintain social stability as automation accelerates.
