Job fears are not holding Gen Zs back from utilising AI
Gen Z professionals may be worried that AI will lead to fewer roles in the future, but they are not letting this hold them back from mastering the technology, according to a new report from Microsoft.
Microsoft's poll among 575 early-career professionals in Australia found that 71% are worried that AI could lead to fewer roles, with the figure rising to 87% for finance professionals.
This concern stems from recent reports indicating AI could take over entry-level roles in workplaces, positions that Gen Z employees usually apply for.
The Productivity Commission previously hinted that entry-level roles may still be impacted by growing generative and agentic AI in the future.
"In such cases, while this could lead to a reduction in hiring of entry-level workers, it is also likely to result in a shift in what entry-level work looks like," the commission previously said.
Despite this anxiety, the Microsoft report found that Gen Zs are still leading the workforce when it comes to AI use.
Most of the respondents (88%) said AI lets them spend less time on routine, repetitive tasks and more on strategic or creative work.
More than seven in ten respondents also said AI helps them communicate more professionally at work (79%), makes them more confident in presenting ideas (74%), and makes them more empowered to learn and solve problems independently (72%).
Despite this widespread use, 92% of Gen Zs are confident in their ability to critically assess and challenge AI-generated outputs, according to the report.
"Our first AI-fluent generation is moving fast with technology, but with eyes wide open," said Sarah Carney, National Technology Officer, Microsoft ANZ, in a statement.
"Organisations that build frameworks for AI-driven critical thinking will see stronger capabilities. This means treating AI as a thought partner, not an answer machine: interrogating suggestions, testing counter-arguments, and fostering transparency around reasoning. We need to create a culture where it's normal to say, 'I asked AI for input, but here's where I challenged it.'"
Leading AI adoption
Gen Zs' use of AI in workplaces has also landed them a more crucial role of leading the rest of the workforce in AI adoption.
According to the report, 83% of Gen Zs have been asked by their senior leaders to help them with using AI. Others said they:
- Introduced a new AI tool, workflow, shortcut, or prompt "hack" that was later adopted more broadly (78%)
- Built or customised an AI agent, not settling for off-the-shelf tools but proactively looking for ways to automate part of their job (61%)
"These numbers are not about hype; they are about capability. Mutual mentoring at scale and hands-on AI innovation harnesses the bottom-up energy," Carney said.
"Leaders need to create a culture that encourages learning across all their teams to accelerate AI adoption and fuel innovation."
