As many as 48 percent of Singapore’s finance professionals fear that artificial intelligence (AI) will affect their own roles, although 81 percent say they are confident in their ability to learn and apply the technology, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

The ACCA’s Global Talent Trends 2026 report, based on responses from over 11,000 finance professionals across 160 countries, found that more than half of Singapore respondents (51 percent) already use AI tools regularly in their day-to-day work. Trust in AI’s role in hiring is lower as only 41 percent of respondents say they trust AI algorithms to support fair and unbiased recruitment decisions.

The report found that 70 percent of Singapore finance professionals consider an organization’s reputation on social and human rights issues when deciding where to work. More than half (54 percent) want to pursue finance roles focused on social impact, while 63 percent are drawn to roles with an environmental remit, higher than those in many similar developed-market economies.

Maurice Cheong, Head of Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania at ACCA, said skilled finance professionals increasingly weigh purpose alongside pay when making career choices, and that organizations treating social impact as optional risk losing top talent to competitors.

Regarding income, 46 percent of Singapore respondents say they are satisfied with their current pay, among the higher rates in Asia Pacific, though 52 percent still plan to request a pay rise in the next 12 months.

Mental health also remains a concern, with 52 percent of respondents saying work pressures negatively affect their mental wellbeing, in line with the global average. The report found a consistent link between poor wellbeing and higher likelihood of leaving an employer.

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