“Hire for the jobs of the future”

With Stefan Hajkowicz, senior principal scientist (strategy and foresight) at CSIRO’s Data61

Repetitive tasks are being replaced by automation but it doesn’t mean robots are taking our jobs – we’ll require more knowledge workers and specialist skill sets in the future. Australia’s leading data innovation network Data61 released a report into the skills and jobs for the future and found that digital innovation is an essential ingredient of our country’s continued prosperity.

Hajkowicz says an understanding of the importance of digital literacy among workers offers Australia the opportunity to drive the next wave of economic growth.

“The increase in digital automation takes away the need for humans to handle repetitive tasks the machines do very well and allows us to switch employees into higher-paid jobs. Companies that employ a lot of people need to look at how to best transition people to minimise job losses. They may even grow their workforce as a result.”

The future will also see a rise in entrepreneurial skills as companies harness digital tools to enter a diverse number of markets. Gig economy workers and creative freelancers will make up a larger part of the workforce. Artificial intelligenceenabled technology will automate a number of processes within businesses across all industry sectors, enabling humans to focus on what we do best – sharing ideas and being creative.

Employers should hire people with highly attuned social interaction skills and emotional intelligence and look for ways to raise the bar, regardless of industry, he says.

“Jobs of the future are likely to be more flexible, agile and connected. Companies need to look at how to transition to better ways of working so that they’re skilled up now in preparation for the inevitable shift toward automation over the coming three or so years.”