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Singapore Tops Global AI Workforce Readiness Ranking as South Korea and the Netherlands Follow, New Study Finds
06 Nov 2026
New research from Lemon.io ranks the countries best prepared for AI adoption in the workplace. Singapore leads with 64.3% of adults using AI, while South Korea records the fastest growth in adoption and the UAE reports the highest overall usage among the top ten.
6 November 2026 – Singapore has been named the country with the most AI-ready workforce in a new international study examining how workers are adopting artificial intelligence and developing the skills needed to use it.
The research, published by software talent marketplace Lemon.io, places South Korea second and the Netherlands third, followed by Israel and Ireland. The United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom complete the top ten.
According to the findings, 64.3% of adults in Singapore use AI tools such as ChatGPT, compared with 33% in the United States. Workplace adoption is also widespread, with 79% of surveyed workers in Singapore reporting that they use AI in their jobs.
The study examines several measures of workforce readiness, including AI adoption, access to training, the concentration of software developers and interest in learning AI-related skills.
Its findings suggest that countries are progressing at different rates, with some leading in everyday AI usage while others have stronger pools of technical talent.
Singapore Leads With Strong AI Adoption and Developer Talent
Singapore ranks first in Lemon.io's study, supported by high levels of AI adoption among adults and working professionals.
The research found that 64.3% of adults use AI tools, while 79% of workers report using the technology at work. Around 45% of surveyed adults have received some form of AI training.
Singapore also has a substantial concentration of software development activity, with approximately 479 GitHub developer accounts per 1,000 working-age people, according to the dataset used in the study.
This figure is more than three times the equivalent measure reported for the United States, which has 147 accounts per 1,000 working-age people.
Around 2% of professionals in Singapore hold AI-related jobs or possess AI engineering skills, twice the share reported for the US.
The combination of widespread adoption and technical expertise places Singapore at the top of Lemon.io's overall assessment, despite the UAE recording a higher proportion of people using AI.
Top 10 Countries With the Most AI-Ready Workforces
| Rank | Country | Adults using AI | Workers using AI | Adults with AI training |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 64.3% | 79% | 45% |
| 2 | South Korea | 40.6% | 70% | 36% |
| 3 | Netherlands | 43.5% | 53% | 24% |
| 4 | Israel | 38.7% | 63% | 42% |
| 5 | Ireland | 49.9% | 64% | 32% |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | 73.3% | 92% | 67% |
| 7 | Switzerland | 39.1% | 77% | 45% |
| 8 | Canada | 38.5% | 61% | 24% |
| 9 | United States | 33% | 67% | 28% |
| 10 | United Kingdom | 43.7% | 65% | 27% |
Source: Lemon.io, October 2026 AI workforce readiness research. The ranking combines several indicators and is not based solely on the percentage of adults using AI.
The figures show that national readiness cannot be measured through adoption alone. Some countries have high rates of AI usage but smaller pools of developers, while others have strong technical expertise but lower participation in training.
South Korea Records the Fastest Growth in AI Adoption
South Korea ranks second, recording the fastest annual increase in adult AI adoption among the countries examined.
According to Lemon.io, the share of adults using AI rose by 15 percentage points over approximately one year, reaching 40.6% in 2026.
The country also recorded the highest AI learning interest score among the top ten, at 90.5 out of 100.
Workplace adoption is already widespread, with 70% of workers reporting that they use AI in their jobs and 36% of adults having received AI training.
These figures suggest that interest in developing new skills is accompanying the country's wider adoption of AI tools.
For employers, the growth in usage may create opportunities to introduce AI-supported workflows, although effective deployment will also depend on how workers are trained and how the technology is incorporated into existing business processes.
Netherlands and Israel Stand Out for Technical Skills
The Netherlands secured third place, supported by a substantial software development community and relatively strong AI adoption.
Lemon.io reports approximately 188 GitHub developer accounts for every 1,000 working-age people, equivalent to nearly one account for every five people in that age group.
Around 43.5% of adults use AI, while 53% of workers report using it in their jobs. The study also found that 24% of adults had received AI training.
Israel follows in fourth place, with one of the strongest concentrations of specialised AI talent.
Approximately 2.3% of professionals in Israel possess AI engineering skills or work in AI-related roles, the highest proportion identified by the study.
AI training is also relatively widespread, with 42% of surveyed adults reporting some form of training and 63% of workers using AI in their jobs.
These findings demonstrate the different strengths supporting national workforce readiness. The Netherlands performs strongly in software development activity, while Israel stands out for its concentration of AI specialists.
Ireland Completes the Top Five as AI Usage Expands
Ireland ranks fifth, with nearly half of adults reporting that they use artificial intelligence.
The study places adult AI adoption at 49.9%, following an increase of eight percentage points over the previous year.
Workplace adoption has also expanded, with 64% of employees using AI at work and 32% of adults reporting AI training.
Lemon.io identifies Ireland as a country attracting AI talent, with more specialists moving into the country than leaving, according to the measures used in its research.
The findings suggest that Ireland is developing its workforce through a combination of technology adoption and access to skilled professionals.
For businesses seeking employees with AI experience, both the availability of technical specialists and the ability of existing staff to use AI tools can influence recruitment and training decisions.
UAE Reports the Highest AI Usage Among Leading Countries
Although the United Arab Emirates ranks sixth overall, it records the highest levels of AI use in several categories.
According to Lemon.io, 73.3% of adults in the UAE use AI tools, while 92% of workers report using the technology in their jobs.
The country also leads the top ten in reported AI training, with 67% of surveyed adults having received some form of instruction.
These results show why the UAE's sixth-place position should not be interpreted as low AI adoption.
The overall ranking considers additional measures, including developer activity and the concentration of specialised AI skills, which influence how countries compare.
Switzerland ranks seventh, followed by Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Why Workforce Training Matters as AI Changes Employment
The Lemon.io research also examines how employers and workers are responding to changes in job requirements.
A senior talent sourcer at the company pointed to findings from the World Economic Forum indicating that 39% of workers' existing skills could change or become outdated by 2030.
The same research estimates that 59 out of every 100 workers will require training by that year.
According to the spokesperson:
The skills people were hired for are changing fast.
The spokesperson added that only 29 of those 100 workers are expected to be upskilled within their existing roles, leaving others potentially needing to move into different positions.
These projections highlight the importance of helping employees develop skills before changes in technology make existing roles more difficult to sustain.
For employers, training programmes may need to address both technical knowledge and the practical use of AI tools in everyday work.
What AI Workforce Readiness Means for Cities and Local Economies
Differences in workforce readiness can also affect cities seeking to attract technology businesses and support local employment.
Urban economies with established software development communities may have access to workers who can develop and maintain AI applications. Other cities may benefit from wider training programmes that help employees in existing industries adopt digital tools.
The research suggests that technical expertise and broader workforce participation should be considered separately when assessing AI preparedness.
A city with a large concentration of developers may be well positioned to support AI product development, while another with higher workplace adoption may be progressing faster in the use of existing tools.
For local governments, universities and business organisations, understanding these differences can help inform decisions about workforce development and digital education.
The study does not establish that higher AI adoption automatically produces greater productivity or employment growth. Those outcomes will depend on how businesses use the technology and whether workers receive suitable support.
Preparing Workforces for the Next Stage of AI Adoption
Lemon.io's findings show that countries are developing AI capabilities through different combinations of adoption, training and specialised skills.
Singapore leads the overall ranking, while South Korea demonstrates rapid growth in usage and Israel has the highest concentration of AI professionals among the countries examined.
The UAE's strong adoption figures also illustrate the difference between widespread use and the broader measures included in workforce readiness assessments.
As AI becomes part of more business activities, employers will need to examine whether their staff have the knowledge and training required to use these systems effectively.
For cities competing to attract investment and create employment opportunities, access to skilled workers may become an important consideration in economic development planning.
The findings provide a snapshot of how countries compare in 2026, while also showing where further investment in education and workforce training may be needed.
About Lemon.io
Lemon.io is a software talent marketplace connecting businesses with vetted developers and technical professionals.
The platform helps companies access software development expertise and supports recruitment for technology projects.
Its October 2026 research examines national AI workforce readiness through indicators covering technology adoption, training, developer activity and demand for AI learning.
Official website: https://lemon.io/
