Almost a third of Australian organisations expect AI to cut some roles and create new ones over the next three years, according to ReadyTech's AI & Innovation Benchmark 2026 report. The survey of Australian firms shows just 14.5% expect AI to significantly reduce workforce size, while 16.7% predict a change in the mix of roles without major headcount change.
For HR teams, the findings suggest AI will reshape jobs before it replaces them on a large scale. The report says organisations see AI as "a catalyst for workforce transformation rather than widespread job displacement."
Preparing for job redesign
The research points to a period of job redesign, with shifts in skill requirements and new ways of working. "As AI becomes more deeply embedded into everyday operations, the emphasis is likely to be on augmenting employees, automating repetitive tasks, and enabling people to focus on higher-value work," the report said.
Companies will need to make deliberate choices about where AI replaces manual effort and where it supports human judgement. The report stresses that the distinction between augmentation and automation is critical, and that HR has a central role in supporting employees through the transition.
For HR managers building those skills, an AI Learning Path for HR Managers can help with workforce analytics, recruitment automation, and talent management.
Wide adoption, shallow maturity
AI adoption in Australia is already widespread: 95.5% of organisations are exploring or using AI tools. But deep integration remains uneven, with 42.8% still in the earliest stages of adoption, often limited to one or two use cases.
"AI has clearly won leadership attention," the report said. "The question is no longer whether leaders believe in AI, it is whether they know what to do next."
That next phase will require discipline around cost, value, scale, and measurable productivity gains. For HR, this means moving beyond experimentation and into structured workforce planning. AI for Human Resources Courses & Certifications can ground those plans in practical skills rather than hype.
Why this matters for HR professionals
The balance of the findings gives HR leaders a clear opening: most companies are not planning mass layoffs, but they are planning role changes. That makes job redesign, skills mapping, and change management core HR work over the next three years. The key question is not whether AI will affect the workforce - it already has. The real task is deciding which roles change, which skills matter, and how employees are supported through the shift.
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