Tech Council of Australia Warns Reforms Needed to Address AI Skills Gap

The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) has recently released a report highlighting the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to drive job growth in Australia. The report, titled ‘Meeting the AI skills boom,’ outlines the significant impact that AI-related jobs could have on the economy, with the potential to add up to 200,000 new roles within six years.

However, in order to meet this demand, the report also emphasizes the need for reforms to address the skills gap in the current workforce. According to the research, Australia’s current levels of qualified employees would need to grow by 500% by 2030 to support the development and adoption of AI technologies.

TCA CEO Damian Kassabgi highlighted the importance of government interventions to support the growth of AI-related jobs, including drawing on skilled migrants with technical expertise. He also noted that new roles in areas such as human resources, sales, and governance would be essential to successfully scale AI systems and businesses.

The report, launched with the support of Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Workday, also identified additional roles in legal, policy, risk, and compliance fields that would be spurred by the uptake of AI technologies. Since 2014, Australia’s AI workforce has grown significantly, with as many AI employees as there are architects or school principals nationwide.

LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand managing director Matt Tindale emphasized the need for diversified training pathways to grow the supply of domestic cybersecurity, product, and design workers. The report also called for alternative entry-level pathways and opportunities for mid-career retraining and upskilling to support the growth of AI-related jobs.

Workday’s Paul Leahy stressed the importance of supporting Australian employees in preparing for the impact of AI technologies on the nature of work. He suggested that a comprehensive AI investment and capability plan would be essential for policymakers to regulate and govern the development and adoption of AI technologies.

Microsoft Australia’s chief technology officer Sarah Carney highlighted the benefits of AI-powered tools in saving time and creating space for more important or creative work. She emphasized the need for AI-skilled workers to fully realize the economic and social benefits of AI technologies as they become more widespread.

Overall, the report underscores the potential for AI technologies to drive job growth in Australia but also highlights the need for reforms and interventions to address the skills gap in the workforce. By investing in training and upskilling programs, Australia can position itself to harness the full potential of AI technologies and drive economic and productivity gains in the future.