Australian workers exhausted, unprepared for technology-driven future of work, report says

Australian workers are exhausted, unwell, at risk of quitting, and largely unprepared for future workplace challenges driven by automation and artificial intelligence, a new report from the University of Melbourne Work Futures Hallmark Research Initiative reveals.

A comprehensive survey of 1,400 Australian workers fielded in June 2022 asked about their experiences at work since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings, published in the 2023 State of the Future of Work Report, reveals Australian workers were in poorer physical and mental health since the pandemic began, with prime aged workers (between 25-55 years of age) significantly impacted, one third of whom had considered quitting.

Report co-author and sociologist Dr Brendan Churchill said: “With high rates of fatigue and exhaustion among younger and middle-aged workers, it’s no surprise that over a third of prime aged workers in Australia are considering quitting their jobs.

“Australian workplaces must prioritise workers’ well-being into the recovery to provide greater support in addressing burnout and mental distress.”

Leave a Comment