Aussies could miss big payday due to basic AI skills

Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson | March 24, 2026

Millions of Australians could boost their earning potential by as much as $11,000 a year if they retrain in artificial intelligence technology. 

But if large sections of the workforce fail to do so, Australia could miss out on a multibillion-dollar productivity boost. 

RMIT Online and Deloitte Access Economics revealed the findings on Tuesday in a study of more than 2000 Australian workers that analysed generational gaps in AI skills and training. 

The research comes after the federal government expanded its National AI Plan to support data centres, but also after tech giant Atlassian announced significant local job cuts as a result of AI-driven changes. 

The report, based on economic modelling and responses from 2025 participants, found most Australians used at least one AI tool in their workplace (84 per cent), but more than half had beginner-level AI skills (54 per cent). 

Only seven per cent of workers claimed they had advanced AI literacy. 

Older workers were significantly more likely to hold basic AI skills than their younger peers, RMIT Online workforce development director Rima Das said, which could affect the technology’s adoption. 

“We identified that 76 per cent of Baby Boomers only have beginner-level AI literacy compared to 43 per cent of Millennials and if you think about the majority of the workforce, most senior decision-making positions are held by that older generation,” she told AAP. 

“Their fluency in critical thinking, analysis, ethical and strategic decision-making is key for driving responsible adoption across an entire organisation and that’s clearly missing.”

Retraining in the technology could provide significant benefits for both employees and employers, the report found. 

Workers who lift their AI literacy from a beginner to an intermediate level could earn up to $7000 more each year, it said, or boost their wage by almost $11,000 by gaining advanced AI skills. 

Economic modelling found Australian economy could add $18.9 billion if half of all workers with beginner-level skills improved to an intermediate level.

The findings showed AI could deliver greater opportunities for workers, Ms Das said, even as it also inspired concerns in some fields. 

“Especially after recent updates, there’s always a fear of what does this mean for my skills and what does this mean for people in certain types of jobs,” she said. 

“Whether we’re looking at it from an individual’s perspective or an organisation’s perspective, there is a significant benefit to enhancing AI literacy in the right ways.”

Atlassian recently cut its workforce by 10 per cent, axing almost 500 Australian roles, due to the growing adoption of AI technology. 

But a study by Microsoft and the Tech Council of Australia estimated generative AI could contribute up to $115 billion to the nation’s economy by 2030.