Women and university graduates in Australia most at risk of losing jobs to AI, report finds

Software programmers, accountants, receptionists and advertising and marketing professionals are among the most at risk of losing their jobs to AI, according to a government report. Photograph: Posed by model; Andriy Popov/Alamy View image in fullscreen Software programmers, accountants, receptionists and advertising and marketing professionals are among the most at risk of losing their jobs to AI, according to a government report. Photograph: Posed by model; Andriy Popov/Alamy Women and university graduates in Australia most at risk of losing jobs to AI, report finds Those with high levels of vocational training, including tradespeople, are least exposed to AI displacement, according to government review Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Artificial intelligence has yet to cause widespread job losses but the federal government has warned that telemarketers, advertising staff and accountants are among the occupations “most exposed” to being replaced by the technology. According to a first-of-its-kind national report , people in the more exposed occupations are more likely to be women and have university qualifications. They include clerks, retail managers, software programmers, accountants, receptionists and advertising and marketing professionals, according to data from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) contained in the AI and Employment in Australia report. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Jobs deemed as the “least exposed” to AI displacement are filled by those with the lowest level of university qualifications and the highest level of vocational training, including tradespeople and aged care workers. Chart showing workers in the most exposed occupations are more likely to be women and have tertiary qualifications than those in the least-exposed occupations Next week, the Albanese government is expected to reveal updated plans on how to regulate and manage AI in a wide range of areas , including industry, the economy and safety guardrails . “Artificial intelligence could yet reshape the jobs market in Australia, but this report shows labour market conditions remain strong by historical standards, youth outcomes have mostly held up, and occupational reshuffling has not accelerated,” said the employment minister, Amanda Rishworth. “[The] government is determined to ensure AI is harnessed to create good jobs, not threaten them. We will continue to make sure Australians are supported through this change, with the skills, training and pathways needed to adapt and benefit.” The report is the first time the government has tracked this data and it will continue to monitor and report trends regularly. Chart showing most at risk occupations Telemarketers and call centre workers were among those classed as the most exposed, with the report saying the highest-risk roles were “routine cognitive jobs … as their tasks are most able to be automated by generative AI”. Those with the lowest exposure to AI displacement includ