AI-Proof Jobs: Cleaning, Construction, Hospitality Least Affected by Automation

A new report from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) offers an optimistic outlook on the future of work in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, suggesting that doomsday predictions of widespread job displacement are largely overblown. While almost all occupations will be augmented by AI, the research indicates that certain sectors, such as cleaning, construction, mining, public administration and safety, and hospitality, are poised to be least affected.

Barney Glover, the JSA’s commissioner, emphasized that AI’s influence would be pervasive across all skill levels and sectors, yet its primary role would be to transform, rather than eliminate, existing roles. This comprehensive Australian study assessed occupations based on the degree to which their tasks could be automated or augmented by AI. It found that many clerical tasks, previously untouched by earlier waves of automation, could now be substantially undertaken by generative AI.

The report specifically identified office clerks, receptionists, bookkeepers, sales, marketing, public relations professionals, business and systems analysts, and programmers as occupations likely to experience the most significant employment reductions by 2050. Conversely, roles in cleaning and laundry, public administration and safety, business administration management, construction and mining labor, and hospitality are projected to see the greatest employment gains. A pivotal finding was that nearly half of all current workers are in occupations with low automation and medium augmentation scores, indicating that their roles are more likely to evolve than face outright disruption.

Modeling future employment growth through 2050 under various AI adoption rates, the JSA report projects a period of slower employment growth through the 2030s, followed by accelerated growth in the subsequent decade. Crucially, all scenarios predict that Australia will have more jobs by 2050 in a world with AI than without it. This suggests that the most profound employment shifts may not materialize for another decade, aligning with the time required for deeper AI integration and associated structural changes across industries.

While the full impact of AI is still unfolding, some immediate effects are already apparent. The report acknowledged a significant decline in work for voice actors, with one talent agency reporting an 80% collapse in demand for narration in content videos due to generative AI. Similarly, some employers are reportedly leveraging AI for low-level tasks traditionally performed by university graduates, though widespread evidence of this trend is still emerging. Major businesses have begun implementing AI-driven changes; for instance, the Commonwealth Bank recently replaced dozens of call centre jobs with chatbots. Telstra’s CEO, Vicki Brady, also indicated that “AI efficiencies” would enable a workforce reduction by 2030, though the company denied recent job cuts were directly attributable to the technology.

Given the rapid evolution of AI, Glover stressed the urgency of equipping Australians of all ages with the necessary tools and skills to thrive in an AI-augmented workplace. He called for a “national leadership framework,” spearheaded by the federal government and involving all levels of administration, to ensure the education and training sector is prepared. Glover highlighted that AI is now a foundational skill, suggesting that everyone will become a form of “prompt engineer.” He emphasized the importance of cognitive and critical thinking skills, advocating for continued support for humanities and social sciences, which have historically fostered these abilities.

Furthermore, Glover concurred with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) that employers have a strong imperative to collaborate with their staff in “co-designing” AI implementation within the workplace. This collaborative approach, he argued, is the most effective way to achieve positive outcomes for both workers and employers, fostering a constructive path forward in AI adoption.