Australian workers do not feel ready for an AI future, despite the confidence of their employers, according to a new survey from leading talent company Randstad.
Randstad’s latest Workmonitor survey reveals one in three Australians (32%) are worried about AI-driven job loss which is fuelling cynicism and a lack of confidence in their career paths.
Less than half of workers surveyed agree they have received training on the AI tools that will reshape their jobs (48%).
This puts them at odds with their employers, who are claiming their workforce has been trained to manage the impending shifts towards AI (56%). Almost two thirds of employers (60%) say AI is already boosting productivity
“Our latest Workmonitor Pulse data should act as a warning that we may be heading towards an AI skills cliff where employers are moving quickly to adopt AI, but many workers haven’t been given the training to keep up,” said Amelia O’Carrigan, Randstad’s Director of Public Sector and Business Support.
“Without proper training, AI doesn’t boost productivity, it unfortunately erodes confidence. Companies need to focus on narrowing this gap otherwise we’ll begin to see job insecurity take hold,” she said.
the restless generation
Globally, the report also found Gen Z has a 22% attrition rate over the past 12 months - the highest of any generation with 53% actively job hunting.
One in three Gen Z plan to leave their current role within a year whilst only 11% said they intended to stay in their role.
“This was even lower in Australia - with only 6% of Gen Z workers saying they want to stay indefinitely with their current organisation,” said Ms Anasis.
35% said they were planning on quitting in the next 12 months.
“Unlike previous generations, Gen Z doesn’t equate loyalty with longevity. If a role doesn’t align with their values, growth expectations or lifestyle, they’re comfortable walking away – sometimes within a year,” she said.
This gap in confidence is fuelling a growing anxiety among Australian workers who are less confident (63%) for an AI-augmented future versus the global average (69%).
“This is a problem that businesses can’t afford to ignore. Once AI becomes embedded in everyday roles, workers who haven’t been upskilled don’t gradually fall behind, unfortunately they fall off a cliff,” said Ms O’Carrigan.
“The good news is this skills cliff is avoidable. With clear, practical training and ongoing support, businesses can reduce fear and ensure AI works for people and not against them,” she said.
“Labour markets are under immense pressure, and it will be those that adapt that will succeed,” she added.
The Workmonitor Pulse report also found that:
- One in three Australians think their job will disappear due to AI in the next five years (11% strongly agree and 21% agree)
- One in three Australians believe their job prospects have worsened compared to a year ago because of AI (11% strongly agree and 21% agree)
- Almost half believe adoption of AI in the workplace will primarily benefit companies rather than employees (20% strongly agree and 27% agree)
- Almost two thirds of employers believe their business could do more to invest in AI skills development (20% agree and 43% somewhat agree)
Millennials (37%) and Gen X (33%) are most concerned about their jobs disappearing in the next five years because of AI, while Gen Z (28%) and Baby Boomers (22%) are less concerned.
“Human connection remains core to organisations, with managers taking on an ever more important role in maintaining stability, and only when businesses and talent are on the same page can true growth be unlocked,” said Ms Carrigan.
The Workmonitor Pulse survey results are supported by the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) The Future of Jobs Report 2025, which found that AI and big data will be the fastest-growing core skills until 2030.
Other skills that will be in high demand in coming years include analytical thinking, creative thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility, and technological literacy.
That WEF report also called for an urgent need for appropriate reskilling and upskilling strategies to bridge divides and help workers transition to roles that blend technical expertise with human-centred capabilities.
about randstad
Randstad is a global talent leader with the vision to be the world’s most equitable and specialized talent company. As a partner for talent and through our four specializations - Operational, Professional, Digital and Enterprise - we provide clients with the high-quality, diverse and agile workforces that they need to succeed in a talent scarce world. We help people secure meaningful roles, develop relevant skills and find purpose and belonging in their workplace. Through the value we create, we are committed to a better and more sustainable future for all.
Headquartered in the Netherlands, Randstad operates in 39 markets and has approximately 40,000 employees. In 2023, we supported 2 million talent to find work and generated a revenue of €25.4 billion. Randstad N.V. is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam. For more information, see www.randstad.com
about workmonitor
The Randstad Workmonitor 2025 explores the views of working people in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. The 2025 survey was conducted between 10 and 28 October 2025 among 27,062 workers, and between 9 and 30 October 2025 among 1,225 employers, across 35 markets including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uruguay.
For this research, Randstad partnered with Evalueserve, a global research and analysis firm. Secondary data was compiled by Randstad Market Intelligence from over 3 million job postings.
For more information, contact:
Mikaela Johnson, Head of Communications.
t: +61 (431) 459 227
e: mikaela.johnson@randstad.com.au