A Look at the Future of Work in Australia

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a futuristic concept anymore. It’s already reshaping the Australian job market. For many workers, that raises a big question: which jobs are most likely to be replaced by AI, and what does that mean for the future of work?

What Are the Jobs Already Being Impacted?

Some job losses linked to AI have already been reported in Australia. For instance, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia recently cut 45 jobs as it adopted an AI-driven voice bot system for handling customer enquiries.

On a broader scale, research shows that routine, repetitive jobs are among the most exposed. Think data entry clerks, cashiers, ticket clerks and bank tellers are all at risk. We’ve even seen some petrol stations that are now virtually fully automated with no cashier or a ‘service station’ to speak of … pumping and paying for your petrol is done at the bowser.

A recent UQ (University of Queensland) study analysed thousands of jobs and nearly 14,000 skills, finding that roles like simple call-centre agents, financial report writers, junior accountants (bookkeeping or payroll), and clerical or postal service roles are among the top 10 most vulnerable.

Which Industries Are Most at Risk?

According to Australian data and analysis, several industries are more exposed than others:

Office and Administrative Work

Clerical roles, receptionists, and administrative assistants face high automation risk. McMenamin, from a Barrenjoey report, noted that many general clerks and machine operators could be substituted over time.
Calls, scheduling, data entry - many of those tasks can now be handled by intelligent systems, reducing demand for humans in those positions.

Financial Services and Legal Work

Junior accounting roles (bookkeeping, payroll) are already being flagged.
Legal support such as paralegals and legal clerks could also face disruption, as AI tools can review documents, draft basic contracts and support other research tasks.

Customer Service / Call Centres

AI-powered chatbots and voice bots are increasingly handling first-level customer interactions.
Language translation roles (translators / interpreters) are also at risk, since generative AI can already produce high quality translations.

Media, Market Research, and Content Creation

Jobs like market research analysts, journalists, and content writers may be impacted. AI can analyse data, generate reports and even produce written content.
Some creative design tasks are also under threat - basic graphic design or routine design work may be automated.

What About Jobs That Are Safer or Less Likely to Be Replaced?

Not all jobs are equally vulnerable. According to recent research, roles that rely heavily on empathy, complex decision making, or hands on physical work are less exposed to automation.

Roles unlikely to be replaced by AI:

Trades like plumbers, electricians, and builders
Healthcare workers (nurses, aged care, allied health)
Teachers and trainers
Hospitality and personal services
Construction, mining, and cleaning

These involve physical work in unpredictable environments, complex human interaction, empathy, or ethical decision making - things AI still struggles with and are hard to replicate.

So, Should Australians Be Worried … or Ready?

The picture is nuanced. On one hand, automation could eliminate or dramatically change roles that are repetitive, data-heavy, or rule based. On the other hand, many jobs won’t disappear entirely, but instead transform. According to JSA modelling, AI is more likely to augment many roles rather than fully replace them.

A 2023 “State of the Future” report from the University of Melbourne estimated that 7–11% of Australian jobs could be lost to automation — potentially between 630,000 to 2.7 million roles, but also noted that new jobs would emerge, especially for workers who can adapt to new skills.

Moreover, the PwC AI Jobs Barometer shows that job postings for roles with high AI exposure are seeing a drop in educational (degree) requirements, suggesting that tasks are being simplified or restructured as automation takes hold.

What Can Workers and Employers Do?

Upskilling & Reskilling: Focus on human centered skills - creativity, problem-solving, communication - that are less likely to be automated.

Embrace AI as a Tool: Rather than fear it, use AI to assist in your role. For many jobs, AI will make tasks more efficient rather than eliminate the need for humans.

Be Proactive: Businesses should plan for the shift. If you're hiring, think ahead about which roles could be augmented by AI - and which ones will always need a human touch.

Policy & Training: At a broader level, industry and government have a role to play in supporting workforce transitions, through education, training programs and regulation.

AI is already reshaping the Australian job market. While some routine roles - administrative assistants, data entry clerks, customer service agents - are at risk of being automated, many other jobs will transform rather than disappear.

We believe that understanding these shifts is essential: for workers to future-proof their careers, and for businesses to recruit intelligently in a changing world.

The future of work isn't jobless - it's different. Make sure you're on the winning side!

What Jobs Will AI Replace?