Women and university graduates in Australia most at risk of losing jobs to AI, report finds

2026-07-08 · Source: AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Regulatory & Compliance, Human Resources & Workforce Development · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

A new report, "AI and Employment in Australia," from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) indicates that women and university graduates in Australia are most susceptible to job displacement by artificial intelligence. Occupations identified as "most exposed" include software programmers, accountants, receptionists, and advertising and marketing professionals, while those with high vocational training, such as tradespeople and aged care workers, are "least exposed." The report, the first national tracking of this data, found no broad labor market upheaval but noted a small negative relationship between AI exposure and employment growth: least-exposed jobs grew by 9.5% between late 2022 and early 2026, compared to 5.6% for most-exposed roles. The Albanese government plans to release updated strategies next week to regulate and manage AI across industry, economy, and safety, aiming to ensure AI creates good jobs and supports Australians through this transition.

Key takeaway

For Australian university graduates or professionals in routine cognitive roles, you should proactively assess your job's AI exposure and consider upskilling in areas less susceptible to automation. The government's upcoming AI regulation plans will shape future support, so monitor these developments to identify new training pathways or opportunities in emerging AI-driven sectors.

Key insights

Australian government data reveals women and university graduates face higher AI job displacement risk than vocationally trained workers.

Principles

• Routine cognitive jobs are most susceptible to generative AI automation.
• "Manual" jobs exhibit the lowest exposure to AI displacement.
• AI exposure correlates with slower employment growth.

Topics

• AI Job Displacement
• Australian Labor Market
• Workforce Automation
• Vocational Training
• AI Regulation
• Employment Trends

Best for: Policy Maker, Executive, HR Professional

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• The jobs most at risk may still find a way forward — AI's labor market impact is uneven, with worker adaptability and mobility being key factors, not just job exposure.

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian.