This snippet is from one of our previous episodes: The Future of Australia’s Population, Retirement Expectations, And Other Things You Thought Were True.

Artificial intelligence. Robotics. Automation.

It feels like every week there’s another headline about how quickly work is changing…  and what jobs might disappear next.

But in this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Mark McCrindle joins Bryce and Ben to unpack a slightly different question: What kind of work can’t AI take away?

AI Can Replace Tasks… But Not Everything

As Mark explains, the future of work is heading towards a world where anything that can be outsourced to computers probably will be.

If a job is procedural, sequential or highly structured, it is more likely to be automated over time. And in many ways, that can be a good thing.

Because the goal should not be for humans to operate like “wet machines” — simply performing repeatable tasks that technology can eventually replicate. The real opportunity is for people to add value through work that is creative, transformative, people-focused and genuinely human.

The Skills That Still Matter

So what skills will continue to matter?

According to Mark, the jobs with a strong people interaction component are much harder to outsource, computerise or send offshore. That includes roles like nurses, teachers, managers, professionals, communicators, leaders, creatives and decision-makers. In other words, the future of work is not just about learning to code or becoming a technology expert.

It is about strengthening the skills that technology finds harder to replace.

If you can bring those things to your work, Mark’s view is clear: your future is bright. You are not simply competing with a computer.

Australia’s Competitive Edge

Australia may be a relatively small country on the global stage, but we have a long history of punching above our weight. We have seen it in medical innovation, banking and finance, small business, start-ups, technology and invention. We’re the “can-do country”… a place where people find a way, make things happen and back those who can come up with a solution.

Mark also shares a story about lateral thinker Edward de Bono, who was once asked what he would design if he could create the perfect country.

His answer?

You would want a mid-sized population. A temperate climate. An island continent. A strong agricultural base. A strong mineral base. An English-speaking population.

And then, as the story goes, he said: We do not need to invent it. It already exists and it’s called Australia.

Of course, having the ingredients is not the same as using them well. As Mark points out, we are also known as the land of the long weekend. We cannot simply sit back and assume opportunity will land in our lap.

So, What Does This Mean for Workers?

The future of work in Australia will not belong only to the most technical people in the room. It will belong to people who can think, adapt, lead, communicate, solve problems and work well with others.

AI may change the tasks we do. It may remove some roles entirely. But it cannot take away the value of human judgement, creativity, leadership and connection.

And that is where Australia still has a real opportunity.

Because if we can combine our innovation, our education base, our entrepreneurial spirit and our willingness to have a go, then the future of work does not have to be something we fear. It can be something we help shape.

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