In true tradie fashion, new data reveals the resilient nature of tradies will extend to industry change and the adoption of AI in the workplace.
A whopping 91 per cent of Aussie workers say they are confident to adapt to the changes AI will bring to their jobs over the next five years.
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According to Indeed, workers predominantly feel ‘capable’ (43 per cent), ‘prepared’ (40 per cent) and ‘excited’ (33 per cent) about the prospect.
“Australians are known for their can-do attitude and this rings true in their arms-wide-open approach to using AI in the workplace,” Career Expert at Indeed, Sally McKibbin said.
“Aussie workers demonstrate remarkable confidence in their ability to adjust to the changes AI will bring to their jobs. In fact, we rank as the third most AI self-assured workforce globally, trailing just behind India and the US.”
“Investing in AI training for employees—particularly those in roles or industries that face high exposure to AI—will mean an organisation is better equipped to navigate and adapt to future workforce changes.”
1 in 5 jobs vulnerable to AI
Analysis of Australian job postings on Indeed found that around one-in-five (21 per cent) jobs face a ‘high exposure’ to generative AI. Tools such as ChatGPT can perform at least 80 per cent of the skills required in those jobs at a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ level.
A further 56 per cent of job postings had a moderate exposure, with AI able to perform between 50 per cent and 80 per cent of the skills required at a high level.
Some industries are less vulnerable to AI, with skilled trades topping the list
Although AI will undoubtedly impact jobs, workers believe some industries will be more resilient than others.
Skilled tradespeople are perceived as the least susceptible to displacement by technology, with 44 per cent of Aussies believing they will be resilient to AI.
Roles such as business strategists and analysts, data scientists and analysts, and customer service representatives are deemed the least likely to remain unaffected by AI advancements.
Workers’ perceptions of AI versus humans
When asked which undertakings are performed better by AI than people, Aussies named data analysis, content creation and routine tasks. Similarly, workers believe AI can be more effective when it comes to problem solving and attention to detail, and equally effective at content creation.
Humans get the workers’ vote when it comes to decision-making (33 per cent, versus 25 per cent for AI), critical thinking (35 per cent versus 27 per cent) and customer service (44 per cent versus 21 per cent). Only one characteristic garners majority support, however, and that’s emotional intelligence—around 53 per cent believe humans do it better.
Aussie employers investing heavily in AI
Aussie workers are among the most likely to say that they feel supported by their employers to adapt to changes in their role, with 71 per cent agreeing this is true compared to the global average of 65 per cent.