New report shows Australia's current and future workforce landscape
Human resource managers have emerged among the top 10 occupations with the highest employment growth in Australia over the past decade, according to the latest report from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA).
The report, Pathways to Success – Jobs and Skills Report 2026, found that employment of human resource managers rose by 46,000 in the 10 years to February 2026. Growth over the five years to February 2026 was 14,900.
The figures are based on JSA's trended analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Labour Force data.
Human resource managers ranked eighth on the list. They were behind education aides (49,000) and ahead of construction managers (45,400) and management and organisation analysts (44,800).
According to JSA, the occupations with the highest employment growth are linked to long-term structural change, including in care, education, construction and digital capability. Employment growth is increasingly spread across knowledge-intensive, practical and human-centred work, the report said.
AI exposure in HR
The report also assessed exposure to generative AI across broader occupation groups, which include Administration and Human Resources.
According to the findings, the occupation group was rated as highly exposed to AI augmentation and moderately exposed to automation.
JSA defines augmentation as generative AI changing tasks rather than displacing them. It defines automation as the complete displacement of tasks performed by a human. The report said the group's medium automation rating suggests some tasks may be displaced.
Overall, JSA found AI has far greater potential to augment occupations than to automate them, citing its earlier Generative AI Capacity Study.
"These findings suggest that the pathways to high skilled work are likely to be reshaped as AI augments tasks, changes workflows and increases the value of workers who can combine technical tools with human judgement and contextual expertise," the report read.
"Therefore, lifelong learning will become increasingly important to help workers to adapt, deepen expertise and continue applying their skills in new ways beyond their skills formed in post-school qualifications including higher education."
Resilient labour market
The report found that workforce participation in Australia is near record highs. Unemployment has also remained at or below 4.5% since December 2021, which the report described as the longest such period since the 1970s.
"The 2026 Jobs and Skills Report highlights the remarkable resilience of Australia's labour market, with participation remaining at near record highs and outperforming all other advanced major economies," Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth said in a statement.
The report was released at the launch of the first Jobs and Skills Month. It offers a detailed look at the country's current and future workforce landscape.
"This report is a reminder that Australia's greatest strength is its people and the work we are doing is turning the dial on prosperity for all," said Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles.
