Impact of AI innovation on work: How HR will evolve in Singapore and globally in 2026

ADP’s 2026 HR Trends Guide outlines how organisations in Singapore and worldwide are preparing for a workplace shaped by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Employers are enhancing HR capabilities with agentic AI, creating opportunities for stronger AI governance and HR-IT collaboration. To meet the needs of an evolving workforce, organisations are embarking on more skills-focused approaches, strengthening multijurisdictional compliance, and introducing more transparent people’s practices.

Jessica Zhang, senior vice president of APAC at ADP, said: “The workplace of 2026 will be intelligent, interconnected, and human centric. Technologies such as AI are becoming integral to daily operations and will continue to shape how work is done across Singapore. With Smart Nation efforts, Singapore is well-positioned to play a larger role in regional AI development.

At the same time, these technologies will fundamentally change how we build skills, design roles, and manage HR processes. To succeed in 2026 and beyond, employers must invest in the right platforms, training, and workforce strategies so their people can grow with the technology and drive meaningful business outcomes.”

A Workplace Defined by AI and Human Capability

According to the guide, AI is emerging as a core capability to build more efficient and reliable HR operations.ADP’s Potential of Payroll 2025 Report found that half (51%) of Singapore’s organisations view AI as important to improving payroll productivity. In 2026, experts predict that Agentic AI can support HR teams by automating onboarding steps, streamlining validation work, providing real-time managerial insights, and reducing errors in data-heavy processes such as payroll.

The guide also highlighted the importance of AI governance frameworks and HR-IT collaboration. Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework today stresses transparency, fairness, and human-centric design. Similar principles are gaining relevance in employment contexts across the world, where employers ensure AI tools use secure, high-quality data and produce reliable outputs, with human review at critical steps. HR leaders will also need IT expertise to select and integrate complex systems, and work with them to better understand the technology’s adoption challenges and workforce impact.

Amin Venjara, chief data officer, ADP, said: “Agentic AI unlocks new frontiers of automation, coordinating multistep work and adapting to real-world variability. Human oversight provides purpose and guardrails, clarifying objectives, approving critical actions, and reviewing impacts. Together, they deliver scalable automation that’s trustworthy, compliant, and resilient when conditions change.”

Adapting to Evolving Workforce Demands

In 2026, organisations are assessing their skill inventories and redesigning roles to adapt to an AI-driven workplace. Skill development opportunities are top of mind for workers, with ADP’s data highlighting that only 23% of Singapore workers feel they have the skills needed to advance in their careers. Employers are responding by mapping workforce skills, refining job design, and using technology to match roles with organisational needs.

Organisations are also responding to evolving expectations surrounding payroll delivery. Payroll transparency is emerging as a top priority, with ADP’s Potential of Payroll report highlighting that 35% of Singapore companies plan to improve payroll transparency in the next two to three years.

Helena Almeida, vice president, managing counsel, AI legal officer, ADP, said: “With pay transparency laws growing worldwide, employers must evaluate their compensation levels now, both internally and externally, and ensure current pay ranges are fair, competitive and based on objective work-related criteria.”

The rise of cross-border teams in Asia has also meant employers must navigate multiple and sometimes conflicting laws. These differences affect payroll, data use, working hours, and record-keeping. Maintaining consistency can be difficult, but the guide highlights how employers can explore developing core standards that uphold workers’ rights, while adapting to local requirements.

With continued innovation and insight, ADP supports organisations worldwide in helping people achieve greater success at work. For additional insight and resources, visit adp.com/HRTrends2026.

About ADP (NASDAQ: ADP)

ADP has been shaping the world of work with innovation and expertise for more than 75 years. As a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, ADP continuously works to solve business challenges for our clients and their workers, from simple, easy-to-use tools for small businesses to fully integrated platforms for global enterprises — and everything in between. Always Designing for People means we’re focused on just that – people. We use our unmatched AI-driven insights and proven expertise to design innovative solutions that help people achieve greater success at work. Learn more at ADP.com