​4.6m Australian jobs at risk at the hands of technology: StartupAUS

A report by StartupAUS believes startup and innovation hubs are the key to combating the 4.6 million jobs at risk of obsolescence in the digital era.

Australian startup advocacy group StartupAUS has recommended the country continue to invest in startup and “multi-layered” innovation hubs if it wants to sustainably attract and retain talent and combat the 4.6 million jobs that are expected to be displaced by technology.

StartupAUS’ latest report [PDF], Economy in Transition – Startups, innovation and a workforce for the future suggests that fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, nurturing a workforce with a forward-looking skill set, and establishing the infrastructure to support innovation, Australia can be “well-positioned to ensure the future of work in Australia is a bright one”.

Additionally, StartupAUS predicts the “solopreneur” — a person working independently as a specialist in their particular field — will also play an important part in combating the obsolescence of jobs.

While the report notes that Australia is expected to be slightly less affected by automation than the United States and below the OECD average due to having already transitioned from manufacturing to a largely service-based economy, StartupAUS believes that the total number of jobs at high risk is approximately 4.6 million, with a further 2.1 million at medium risk. Read more…