1 in 4 Aust workers expect tech to make them obsolete

A quarter of Australian workers expect their job to be made obsolete by technological advances, according to Randstad’s latest WorkMonitor survey.

The global survey shows that technology is disrupting most industries and roles. Some 71% of employees reported that technology has a large impact on their job, although 73% of these view this as an opportunity.

But technology will inevitably force some employees out of their current jobs. Randstad employment analyst Steve Shepherd said this too can be an opportunity.

“Whilst many will benefit from [technology] advancements, employees who find themselves out of work should view it as an opportunity to upskill or learn new talents and find suitable, alternate roles,” he said.

Randstad research also indicates that around 11% of Australian workers were actively looking for a new job over the last quarter, a slight improvement over the previous quarter. Job seeker confidence is also improving, with the number of Australian respondents confident in finding a comparable job within six months increasing four percentage points to 70%.

“Looking ahead to Q3 & Q4, what we want to see is the positive trend continuing; with strengthening business confidence as organisations choose to hire more temporary, permanent, part-time or full-time employees,” Shepherd said. “To complement this, organisations need to focus on authentic investment in their current employees, to maintain morale, productivity, performance and a strong sense of culture.”

But at the same time, the number of Australians considering job loss to be a significant fear has grown from 7% to 8%.

Factors including technology disruption and fear of job loss may mean that Australian workers view their careers as perhaps more fluid than workers of those prior generations.

The survey indicates that over two thirds of Australian employees feel a person’s first job does not determine the rest of their career. In comparison, only 56% of workers worldwide do not believe that their first job significantly influences their career choice.

The survey shows that 80% of Australian employees consider temporary work to be a good stepping stone to a permanent, full-time position.

“It is undeniable that temporary positions are an excellent foot in the door and, for those struggling to pick up permanent work, it’s an important avenue to launch or re-launch their career,” Shepherd said.

“Undertaking a temporary or contract position demonstrates commitment, a willingness to work and an aptitude to learn. It doesn’t matter whether the role is in the industry in which you want to establish your career, rather it’s the experience and transferrable skills you learn that will have a lasting impact.”

Temporary work is becoming an increasingly important precursor to landing a permanent position in light of government projections that 30% of graduates could be unemployed four months after finishing their degree.

But temporary work isn't just for those fresh out of university. Around 60% of Australian employees feel that temp work can be for all ages, and 60% believe you can switch jobs at any time.

“This is positive news for those who have been retrenched, are considering a career change or using it as a stop-gap when re-entering the workforce,” Shepherd said. “With the labour market in a state of flux and many of the more established industries hiring on a business responsive basis, temporary jobs can provide the perfect launch pad for people, whether they are 16 or 65.”

The survey also shows that 67% of Australian respondents are satisfied in their current role, and 90% believe that good work-life balance is the main priority for a healthy lifestyle.

For the research, Randstad polled workers aged 18-65 working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid, not self-employed job. It had a minimum sample size of 400 employees per country.

Image courtesy of Kate hiscock under CC