Australia's statistics bureau: AI did not change job vacancies at 82% of businesses in August
In the first official measure, 3.8% of businesses said AI cut vacancies and 0.6% said it added them; information media and telecoms was hit hardest, at 16%.
Why it matters
The Australian Bureau of Statistics added questions about artificial intelligence to its quarterly Job Vacancies Survey this quarter, giving one of the first official national measures of AI's effect on hiring. The answer so far is small: most businesses saw no effect, a few percent saw fewer vacancies, and two thirds expect no effect over the next year. The effect is uneven, though. Media and telecoms firms were four times as likely as average to report cuts, while utilities were the most likely to report new openings.
Key facts
- 81.8% of businesses said AI had no impact on vacancies in August 2026
- 3.8% said AI reduced vacancies; 0.6% said it increased them; 13.0% were unsure
- Information media and telecoms: 16% reported fewer vacancies due to AI
- Utilities: 10% reported more vacancies due to AI
- About two thirds expect no AI impact on vacancies over the next 12 months