The impact of generative artificial intelligence on the labor market is becoming increasingly tangible, though it is not yet catastrophic. According to the first national report by Australia's Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, from November 2022 to February 2026, employment in professions with the highest exposure to AI grew by only 5.6%. For comparison, in sectors least affected by the technology, this figure stood at 9.5%. The study's authors describe this as an "early and moderate signal" rather than evidence of mass job displacement.
Who is at risk?
Routine cognitive professions are most at risk of automation: office workers, data entry operators, administrators, accountants, marketers, and programmers. These occupations show slower growth in employment, hours worked, and job vacancies. Notably, the least vulnerable group includes professions involving manual labor and caregiving—caregivers, electricians, drivers, cleaners, and carpenters.
The report also reveals a gender and educational divide. In the most vulnerable professions, men account for only 43.7% of workers, compared to 69.5% in the least vulnerable group. The share of workers with a bachelor's degree or higher in the first category reaches 43.7%, while in the second it is just 14.9%. This means women and highly educated specialists are more exposed to risks associated with AI adoption.
It's not that straightforward
Despite the overall trend, some highly AI-exposed professions continue to grow actively. For example, the number of software and application developers in Australia reached 199,000 by February 2026—25% higher than in November 2022. The authors also found no deterioration in the situation for university graduates: youth unemployment among those with higher education remains low, and the share of graduates working in their field has even increased. This sets Australia apart from the United States, where young specialists in vulnerable fields are considered a primary risk group.
No mass disruption yet
Australia's overall labor market shows remarkable resilience. In February 2026, the unemployment rate stood at 4.2%—lower than any figure in the decade before the pandemic. The employment-to-population ratio reached 64%, above the pre-pandemic average. The authors observed no accelerated redistribution of workers between professions. However, in the highly exposed group, unemployment rose more sharply than in other categories. At the same time, many routine cognitive professions had been declining as a share of employment even before ChatGPT's emergence, so the current weakness may reflect not only AI's impact but also pre-existing structural trends.
According to the report, the Australian government intends to use AI to create "good jobs, not to threaten them." Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth emphasized that citizens will receive support through the skills, training, and career pathways needed for adaptation.
My view: The Australian report is the first serious signal that cannot be ignored. We see that AI is not replacing people en masse, but it is slowing employment growth in entire sectors. For the crypto industry, where automation and algorithms are already the norm, this is a warning: even the most tech-driven professions are not immune to structural shifts. The labor market will change faster than we are used to thinking.