The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) across Asia-Pacific (APAC) brings both immense opportunity and complex challenges — particularly for workforce readiness and inclusion. While AI is projected to add up to USD 3 trillion to the region’s GDP by 2030, large segments of the workforce remain underprepared. With a working population of over 2 billion, and 15 million people entering the APAC workforce annually, the stakes are high. This report, AI for All: Building an AI-Ready Workforce in Asia-Pacific, explores how the region is navigating the shift to an AI-enabled future—uncovering which groups might benefit through this transition with the right skilling opportunities, where gaps in skilling and policy remain, and what it will take to ensure a collective and sustainable transformation to an AI-driven economy.
Drawing on a comprehensive, multilingual analysis of over 400,000 publicly available resources and nearly 3,000 end-beneficiary survey responses across eight countries and territories, the report maps the current AI skilling landscape—including policies, programmes, and perceptions. It identifies eight priority workforce segments—from jobseekers and young adults to low digital literacy groups—who stand to benefit most from targeted AI skilling. The research also reveals significant awareness gaps, with only 15% of surveyed individuals having engaged in any AI skilling, and more than half unaware such programmes exist.
Going beyond surfacing insights, the report offers design principles for more effective AI skilling efforts—emphasising accessibility, contextual delivery, and sustained support. It highlights the need for cross-sector collaboration to reach communities with unmet needs, and calls on ecosystem actors to support an AI Just Transition.
This research is part of a broader effort under the Google.org-funded AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific, which seeks to equip Asia’s workforce with essential artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge, tools and training needed to thrive in an AI-driven future.
