Leaders expecting AI to reduce, create new roles over the next three years
Australian organisations are now looking at artificial intelligence tools as a "catalyst for workforce transformation" despite persisting concerns that it will lead to job losses, according to a new report.
More than a quarter (29.9%) of Australian firms surveyed in ReadyTech's latest report said they expect AI to reduce some roles and create new ones over the next three years.
Only 14.5% of the respondents are expecting AI to significantly reduce workforce size, while another 16.7% said they expect the technology to change the mix of roles without major headcount change.
"The survey paints a more balanced picture of AI's workforce impact than much of public discussion suggests," the report read.
"This indicates organisations see AI as a catalyst for workforce transformation rather than widespread job displacement."
Gearing up for job redesign
According to the report, the findings further suggest that organisations are preparing for a period of job redesign, where there will be shifts in skill requirements and new ways of working.
"As AI becomes more deeply embedded into everyday operations, the emphasis is likely to be on augmenting employees, automating repetitive tasks, and enabling people to focus on higher-value work," the report read.
It underscored that the distinction between augmentation and automation will be critical.
"Organisations will need to make deliberate choices about where AI replaces manual effort, where it enhances human judgement and how employees are supported through the transition," the report said.
"This is where AI operations capability becomes important, bridging the gap between technology capability and workforce reality."
'AI is already mainstream'
The findings come as the report found that 95.5% of organisations in Australia are already exploring or using AI tools.
Despite this, deep integration of AI at work remains uneven as 42.8% are still in the earliest stages of adoption.
"AI is already mainstream, but maturity is still shallow," the report read.
Businesses at the earliest stage of AI adoption are still exploring the technology or just using it for one or two limited use cases, according to the findings.
"AI has clearly won leadership attention," the report read. "The question is no longer whether leaders believe in AI, it is whether they know what to do next."
It stressed that the next phase of AI maturity will require more than enthusiasm and experimentation.
"Leaders will need stronger discipline around what AI costs, where it creates value, how usage scales, and whether productivity gains are real, measurable, and repeatable," it added.
