Although nearly nine in ten Australian executives agree companies should retrain workers displaced by artificial intelligence, only 17% of employees say they have received any AI-related training in the past year. This gap reveals rising tensions as automation continues to reshape job roles and employee expectations.
Australia is one of the most vocal countries encouraging employers to reskill staff affected by AI. However, in practice, many workers are being left behind. A global survey by HR software company Dayforce found that 56% of local businesses do not have a plan to retrain or transition employees impacted by AI, even as a quarter of workers worry their skills are becoming outdated.
One in seven Australian workers report that their role has already changed due to AI, while 40% believe additional changes are likely in the near future. Executives, however, appear to be reaping most of the benefits. In the past year, 72% of executives received AI training, compared with 32% of managers and 17% of workers. This divide is impacting trust, with executives almost 30% more likely than other employees to believe their organisation will use AI responsibly.
Despite the low levels of reskilling, Australian workers are motivated to adapt. A strong majority, 74%, say developing their AI capabilities is important to them and more than half trust their organisations to use the technology ethically. However, without clear training pathways and opportunities for advancement, there is growing concern that companies may be reinforcing an AI-driven skills divide between those shaping the future and those being left behind.
The potential is considerable. Research in the report suggests artificial intelligence could contribute up to $116 billion to Australia's economy over the next ten years. Without strong efforts in transparency, talent development and practical upskilling, many organisations risk chasing trends without achieving long-term success.
