Australian workers, especially those who have experience with robotics and AI, are increasingly seeing the benefits, according to new research commissioned by Amazon.
Four out of five working Australians estimate that automation in their workplace could save them time during the workday – estimated at up to 61.3 minutes each day or more than 32 working days a year.
Nearly three in five (56%) workers say they have experience using automation at work, while four in five (79%) believe advanced machine tools, industrial robots and/or AI are relevant to their job. However, only 36% believe they are currently using AI to its full potential.
If it were possible to nominate tasks for technology to take on, Australian workers say they would happily have a robot follow up on emails (26%) and sit in on meetings that could have been an email (23%).
Amazon Robotics principal tech program manager, Mikell Taylor said, “While robots may not be able to manage your inbox or take your place in meetings, they can help with repetitive or physical tasks enabling workers to focus on more rewarding activities while also creating a safer workplace.”
The research supports this with nine out of ten (91%) workers who have had experience with AI and robotics saying their work has been positively impacted, including by increasing efficiency (51%), improving productivity (45%), and reducing mundane or routine tasks/workflow (38%).
Amazon Australia partnered with demographer, Bernard Salt, to explore how automation, robotics and AI have been reshaping Australia’s workforce.
Salt believes Australia is experiencing a workforce revolution thanks to automation and robotics, identifying three key impacts: workforce expansion, higher-valued jobs, workplace safety.
- Workforce expansion
“AI, robotics and technology-related roles have experienced the second largest growth over the decade – up 109,955 jobs according to ABS data for the decade to February 2024 – contributing strongly to the 25% increase in the Australian workforce over the same period,” Salt said.
“Since introducing robotics, Amazon has created 700 new categories of jobs globally,” Taylor said.
“In Australia, Amazon already has robots working alongside our team in Sydney and similarly, our Melbourne robotics fulfilment centre will create more than 2,000 jobs working alongside advanced robotics ranging from entry-level jobs interacting with AI and robotics to pick and pack orders, to higher skilled roles such as engineers and operations managers.”
2. Increased higher value jobs
“As automation drives greater efficiencies with routine tasks, we see a positive shift with workers moving into more skilled and higher-value positions. Higher-skilled (and higher paying) jobs have increased by 43% nationally in the decade to February 2024, compared to a 5% increase in lower-skilled jobs over the same decade,” Salt said.
In Amazon’s Western Sydney robotics fulfilment centre (FC) alone, at least 1,000 jobs have been enhanced by new technologies such as AI-powered robotics, and sorting technologies, with skills training also offered for employees to transition into more skilled roles.
3. Workplace safety
“Through the reduction of monotonous, repetitive or boring tasks, automation and robotics are also improving job safety, minimising workplace hazards, contributing to a healthier workforce overall,” Salt said.
Improving safety and supporting workers is a key focus for the Amazon team when designing and introducing robotics.
“Our robots are highly capable machines designed to lift and move large carts, weighing up to 362kg. Our goal is to ensure these systems improve safety and productivity. Technology should be used to help us retain and grow our talent through skill development and reimagining how we make our workplace better, both in productivity and safety,” Taylor said.