This report contains an additional analysis paper (Analysis Paper F: workers’ exposure and experiences) to be read in conjunction with the five papers released in Our Gen AI transition: analysis papers. This final analysis paper explores how the implications of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) vary across the workforce, including exposure, experiences and perspectives, through cohort and intersectional lenses. 

The adoption and use of Gen AI is not necessarily a positive or negative development for workers, and its impact depends on how and where it is used. The analysis in the study shows that exposure and adoption are currently uneven across occupations and industries. This in turn means different impacts for different groups in the workforce, given the current composition of the workforce.

The second part of the report (Technical notes) provides the technical detail of how the key pieces of analysis were undertaken in the overarching report and analysis papers. The technical notes also provide guidance on interpreting and using the analytical outputs from the study.

Key findings

• While Gen AI has significant and widespread applications throughout the economy, labour market outcomes depend on how technology is adopted, how productivity impacts are translated and how its gains are shared.
• To the extent that cohorts and sections of the workforce experience different impacts of Gen AI, the transition to a Gen AI-enabled economy could help to resolve – or exacerbate – existing inequities in the labour market.
• Cohorts marginalised due to a lack of digital literacy are also likely to be marginalised due to a lack of Gen AI skills and knowledge.
• The readiness of the skills system will be critical in helping to bridge the ‘digital divide’.
• Policies that promote mobilising the entire skills system to prioritise digital/AI capability uplift and activating short form training in digital/AI will ensure that all Australians are upskilled and can keep up with the rapid pace of change.