She’ll be right: 91% of Aussie workers confident about AI

Australia, 13 May 2024 - While most future-of-work narratives focus on how AI will upend work and the workforce as we know it, new data from job site Indeed reveals Aussies as overwhelmingly fearless when it comes to the adoption of AI in the workplace. 

A whopping 91% of Aussie workers say they are confident to adapt to the changes AI will bring to their jobs over the next five years—predominantly citing they feel 'capable' (43%), 'prepared' (40%) and 'excited' (33%) about the prospect. 

Over half (56%) of Aussie white-collar workers admit to using AI at work, while 61% of those workers are more likely to turn to AI for help with a work task over a colleague. So perhaps Australia's zest for AI is owing to our fast and widespread adoption of the tech. 

AI already changing people's jobs significantly 

Half of white-collar workers who use AI say their job description has already changed, and 57% say the skills needed to perform their role have too. Over the next five years, 70% of all workers believe the skills needed to perform their role will change—with 28% anticipating a 'significant' shift. 

1 in 5 jobs vulnerable to AI 

Analysis of Australian job postings on Indeed found that around one-in-five (21%) jobs face a 'high exposure' to generative AI, meaning tools such as ChatGPT can perform at least 80% of the skills required in those jobs at a 'good' or 'excellent' level. A further 56% of job postings had a moderate exposure, with AI able to perform between 50% and 80% of the skills required at a high level. 

Aussie employers investing heavily in AI 

Aussie workers are among the most likely to say that they feel supported by their employers to adapt to changes in their role, with 71% agreeing this is true compared to the global average of 65%. 

Nearly three quarters (73%) of white-collar workers have access to AI tools at work, with 40% encouraged to use AI by their employer. Among these workers, just over half (52%) say their employer has offered training on how to use AI tools, with an additional 38% saying they would like their employer to offer this. 

Workers' perceptions of AI versus humans 

When asked which undertakings are performed better by AI than people, Aussies named data analysis, content creation and routine tasks. Similarly, workers believe AI can be more effective when it comes to problem solving and attention to detail, and equally effective at content creation. 

Humans get the workers' vote when it comes to decision-making (33%, versus 25% for AI), critical thinking (35% versus 27%) and customer service (44% versus 21%). Only one characteristic garners majority support, however, and that's emotional intelligence—around 53% believe humans do it better. 

Sally McKibbin, Career Expert at Indeed says: "Australians are known for their can-do attitude and this rings true in their arms-wide-open approach to using AI in the workplace." 

"Aussie workers demonstrate remarkable confidence in their ability to adjust to the changes AI will bring to their jobs. In fact, we rank as the third most AI self-assured workforce globally, trailing just behind India and the US." 

"Despite acknowledging that AI may cost more jobs than it will create and will change the work they do, the majority of Aussies are not worried—and many are actually excited—about stepping up to the challenges AI will bring." 

"Investing in AI training for employees—particularly those in roles or industries that face high exposure to AI—will mean an organisation is better equipped to navigate and adapt to future workforce changes." 

ENDS

About the studies 

Two new Indeed studies are referenced in this release:

• 'AI at Work' was commissioned by global job site Indeed and was conducted online by YouGov between 17th—23rd April 2024, and includes a national representative sample of 1,001 Australian 'white-collar workers' aged between 18-64 currently in employment. The data was weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect the latest ABS Australian population estimates.
• 'Tomorrow's World: The Workplace and Workforce of the Future' was commissioned by global job site Indeed and was conducted by YouGov between 30 November—21 December 2023, surveying 16,671 respondents in either full-time or part-time employment across 11 countries, including 1,708 respondents in Australia. Globally, respondents included employers, employers/managers, and HR decision-makers. Global report here.