Since the advent of AI and the current swell of automation being adopted across every industry, we’ve heard a lot of chatter about how this will affect jobs and the hiring market in the future.
We’re here to cut through the noise and deliver the real read on AI in the job market.
Tech jobs are not disappearing due to AI. The are being redefined.
The difference between being displaced by AI and being in demand because of it increasingly points to skills, not job titles.
What is Happening Right Now in the Tech Job Market
According to the Australian Computer Society (ACS) Digital Pulse report, Australia’s technology workforce passed one million workers in 2024, growing by 60% over the past decade. However, the same report purports that demand is still outpacing supply, with 1.3 million tech workers projected to be needed by 2030 to meet industry and government demand.
At the same time, we’ve seen a shift in hiring patterns.
- Reduction in entry level roles
- Need for more specialised digital skills
- Stronger alignment between technical roles and business outcomes
Australian employers are adopting AI faster than they’re hiring more people to support it.
Globally, companies have begun to openly acknowledge that AI tools can replace routine tasks performed by junior developers, QA testers, customer support technicians and operational IT staff. We can see that same pattern emerging locally, especially in large enterprises and digitally mature organisations.
However, AI will not reduce the need for expertise. Rather, it will advance it.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 Occupation Shortage List, many tech related occupations continue to be listed in shortage nationally or at state level, especially roles requiring experience, judgement, and system level thinking.
Despite headlines, demand for skilled tech workers remains strong across multiple sectors.
It was estimated that Australia would face a shortfall of up to 30,000 cyber professionals by 2026, cautioning that the gap would widen without accelerated training and reskilling.
Gartner forecast that Australian organisations will spend over AU$7.5 billion on cybersecurity in 2026, driven by AI enabled threats and stricter regulatory expectations.
Australia is quietly becoming the AI infrastructure capital of the Southern Hemisphere. Global and local investment in data centre systems has grown significantly, largely driven by AI-optimised infrastructure.
We’re at the forefront of this global cloud transformation as we evolve from cloud expansion to optimisation and governance. CIOs are shifting their attention to interoperability, identity controls, and scaling AI workloads effectively.
“It is projected that technology spend will reach $172.3 Billion in Australia, and this is largely driven by investment in Cloud & Infrastructure, AI & Cybersecurity. We’re not just building capacity; we’re building the future of cloud in the AI era Australia and establishing ourselves as a major hub for global transformation.”
Principal Consultant
Nicole Guala
Why the Market Feels Different
For Job Seekers
Currently it may feel like a tightening of the market. However, it’s simply a recalibration.
Fewer entry-level roles and tighter hiring criteria can make it feel like opportunities have slowed, when in reality they’ve become more targeted. AI hasn’t removed demand for talent; it’s raised the bar for what employers expect. Skills matter more than job titles, and depth matters more than exposure. Employers are prioritising candidates who can demonstrate real-world application, adaptability and the ability to work alongside AI, not compete with it. As many entry level tasks that were once used for training newly-minted tech workers have now been automated, early‑career professionals may notice the shift.
This is a good time for candidates to sharpen your value, clarify your capability, and position yourself where demand is strongest. Relevance, learning agility and impact are still career progressors.
For Hiring Managers
The shift maybe more closely aligned to where “value” is placed.
AI tools are accelerating output and automating routine tasks, which means roles are no longer built around volume of work, but around judgement, problem‑solving and impact. Attention is now being paid to tech professionals who can operate above the automation layer. Candidates who understand how systems connect, can make informed decisions, know when to rely on AI and when not to are becoming more valued. Experience, context and adaptability now outweigh narrow technical capability. In this redefined space, candidates who can translate technical expertise into business outcomes, demonstrate critical thinking, and show evidence of navigating complexity are in highest demand.
Increasing Employability in Tech Roles
Becoming a sought after candidate in the current job market increasingly is shifting to skill adjacency and capabilities rather than academic credentials, job titles and singular utility specialisation.
Job seekers become more attractive to employers if they can:
- Integrate AI tools into workflows
- Manage data securely
- Design systems that scale
- Understand regulation, risk and ethics
Skills That Are in High Demand:
AI & Data
- Applied AI (using tools, not just theory)
- Data Engineering & Analytics
- Machine Learning Operations and automation oversight
Cyber & Security
- Cloud Security
- Incident Response
- Identity & Access Management
- AI‑aware security practices
Cloud & Infrastructure
- Azure, AWS or GCP
- Infrastructure as code
- Platform reliability and resilience
Human Skills
- Problem solving
- Stakeholder communication
- Adaptability
- Ethical and responsible AI literacy
Skills Declining in Value:
- Manual QA testing
- Repetitive IT support workflows
AI is changing how work gets done, not eliminating the importance of IT professionals.
What This Means For Job Seekers
AI has not heralded a tech jobs shortage, but a transformation of tech skills. This is a market that rewards clarity, not volume.
Casting a wide net with generic applications is far less effective than targeting roles where your skills directly align with business needs. Job seekers who are most successful right now are those who can clearly articulate what they do, how they add value, and how their skills translate in an AI‑enabled workplace. For those prepared to upskill, reskill or specialise, the prospects are promising. Continuous learning opens up opportunities for roles that are evolving or yet to be established. It is time to reframe how AI will affect jobs for candidates.
Opportunities are still there, learning how to work with AI will increase your chances of career success, by learning how to adapt and stay commercially relevant.
What This Means For Hiring Managers
The way roles are defined and talent is assessed is sharpening. As AI handles more routine work, emphasis moves to capability, judgement and impact. Technical skills are not leading the charge. Candidates who bring experience, systems thinking and the ability to connect technical delivery to business outcomes are emerging as the strongest fit for many roles. Hiring decisions are becoming increasingly defined by long‑term value rather than short‑term capacity. Adaptability, problem‑solving and the confidence to operate in evolving environments is becoming a priority.
In this redefined AI market, successful teams are built by hiring for potential and relevance, not just immediate task execution.