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The rapid uptake of artificial intelligence is expected to reshape workplaces, automate workloads and threaten job security for countless Australians – but experts say there are some reliable steps you can take if AI displaces your job.
Analysis from Australian policy organisation the Social Policy Group (SPG) found if Australia maintains its current pace of AI adoption, fully one third of the workforce (33.18 per cent) could experience a period of unemployment by 2030.
Given AI’s explosive development over recent years, Joseph Ciarrochi, professor at the Australian Catholic University’s Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, said it is “not uncommon to feel uneasy about job security”.
“The rise of automation and AI has led to significant changes in various industries, often resulting in job displacement,” said Ciarrochi.
“However, being displaced by technology does not signal the end of your career – it can be an opportunity for growth and reinvention.”
Don’t stop learning
Whether it be fast-food drive-thrus trying to replace staff with AI or architects having their logic and design patterns mimicked, AI most threatens job displacement in its potential to automate existing roles.
With the World Economic Forum reporting 22 per cent of global roles are expected to fundamentally change by 2030, Niusha Shafiabady, associate professor for computational intelligence at the ACU’s Peter Faber Business School, told Information Age it’s crucial professionals embrace ”continuous learning”.
Whether this be building your expertise with short-term online courses, gaining new qualifications at an Australian university or TAFE, or attending industry workshops to acquire new, in-demand skills, Shafiabady noted ongoing education can help professionals “adapt with the evolving job market”.
“Platforms like Coursera, Udacity, and LinkedIn Learning offer a plethora of courses that can help you stay ahead of the curve,” said Shafiabady.
Keep learning, says Niusha Shafiabady. Photo: YouTube
She added “data analysis, cybersecurity, AI, and digital marketing” are “particularly promising” areas to upskill in, while Tom Pagram, artificial intelligence leader at PWC Australia, said jobs requiring AI skills also “command a wage premium”.
“AI isn’t just changing work – it’s creating new opportunities and career paths,” he said.
“The key is adapting.”
Adopt AI, but focus on human skills
As AI takes over more complex analytical tasks, even high-skill industries are expected to feel the impacts of automation in the workplace.
For example, the SPG’s worst-case estimates suggest more than half of Australia’s workforce in financial and insurance services could experience AI-related displacement by 2030.
However, Angel Zhong, professor of finance at RMIT’s School of Economics, Finance and Marketing, told Information Age while “AI is transforming the industry, it is not fully replacing the need for human expertise”.
“Instead, it is augmenting the capabilities of Australian financial professionals, enabling them to focus on higher-value tasks that require strategic thinking and client engagement.”
Zhong emphasised AI “does pose some risks to job security” – particularly for roles which involve repetitive or routine tasks – but jobs that require complex problem-solving, relationship management, and regulatory expertise are “less likely to be fully automated”.
“Emphasise skills that AI cannot easily replicate, such as emotional intelligence, client relationship management, and strategic thinking,” said Zhong.
Zhong added Australians should “collaborate with AI” and learn to work with AI tools to enhance productivity and decision-making, while also maintaining a focus on “uniquely human skills”.
Explore the right career paths
While job displacement appears to threaten even seasoned professionals, Shafiabady told Information Age it can be an “opportunity to explore new career paths that align with your interests and passions”, and those affected should consider pivoting to a career that offers “long-term stability.”
“Research industries are growing and have a high demand for talent,” she said.
“For instance, the healthcare sector, renewable energy, and e-commerce are experiencing significant growth.”
SPG estimates “first layoffs” will begin in routine data entry, admin and retail.
Simple repetitive jobs will be the first to be displaced. Photo: Shutterstock
Shy of potential government intervention or AI adoption slowing down, advancements in virtual assistants and AI chatbots have led the policy specialist to estimate 43 per cent of Australia’s administrative and support services workers could experience displacement by 2030.
SPG further noted AI will eventually impact many “high-income, knowledge-based positions traditionally considered aspirational and secure”, with telecommunications, information media and professional, scientific and technical services facing similar displacement rates.
Jobs in education and training, however, were measured among the least displaced at 15 per cent relative to the workforce.
Zhong said professionals should “consider specialising in areas like cybersecurity, sustainable finance, or AI ethics, where human expertise is critical and growing in importance”, while Jed Gladwin, founder of cybersecurity recruitment agency StraightUp, echoed that cybersecurity roles will continue to require a human touch.
“First level, security operations center (SOC) support, for example, will likely be impacted,” said Gladwin.
“It won’t be hard for vendors to introduce tools which can monitor and escalate alerts.
“More broadly, however, I don’t think a robot will be able to keep up with new, advanced cyber threats, or think strategically.
“We’re still yet to see AI translate into real job-flow other than a few use-cases in positions that are typically fulfilled by entry level staff such as junior SOC roles, or junior governance, risk, and compliance roles focused on reading and creating policies and questionnaires,” said Gladwin.
Utilise the gig economy
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, there were 1.1 million independent contractors in August of 2024, representing 7.5 per cent of all employed Australians and an increase on the one million recorded in August 2023.
“The gig economy is thriving, and many individuals are finding success as freelancers or entrepreneurs,” said Shafiabady.
Meet your new barista who never gets your order wrong. Photo: Shutterstock
Shafiabady pointed to digital work platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer as a means of finding clients and projects, and encouraged those with a “marketable skill or a business idea” to considering starting their own venture.
Self-employment, however, is far from immune to the risk of AI displacement, and Shafiabady noted workers should consider whether their profession is relatively safe from displacement before committing to freelancing.
“Editing jobs, for example, are more so at risk of being displaced given the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT,” she explained.
“Before committing to the gig economy, make sure you’re pursuing a resistant line of work.”
“Overall, entrepreneurship can be challenging, but it also offers the freedom to chart your own course and leverage your unique talents,” she added.
Shafiabady also highlighted networking as a powerful tool for finding new work opportunities.
“Attend industry conferences, join professional organisations, and participate in online forums related to your field,” she said.
“Connecting with others in your industry can provide valuable insights, job leads, and potential collaborations.”
Finally, Ciarrochi emphasised that “resilience is key to navigating change”, and encouraged workers to stay motivated, focus on their goals and seek the support of “family, friends and professional networks”.
“Job displacement can be stressful and disheartening, but maintaining a positive mindset is essential,” he said.