Only 1 in 4 Australian workers feel their jobs are safe from elimination, says report

Only one in four Australian employees believe their jobs are safe from elimination, highlighting growing concerns over job security as artificial intelligence, automation and workplace transformation reshape employment, according to new research from ADP.

The first chapter of ADP Research’s People at Work 2026 report found that just 25% of Australian workers feel confident their jobs are secure. 

The figure is higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 18%, but points to widespread uncertainty about whether current roles will remain relevant in the years ahead.

Young workers least confident

Job security concerns are particularly pronounced among younger Australian workers.

Only 18% of employees aged 18 to 26 believe their jobs are safe from elimination. Workers aged 27 to 39 are the most confident, with 29% expressing confidence in their job security.

Confidence also varies by type of work. Knowledge workers are the most likely to feel secure, at 35%, compared with 20% of skilled task workers and 19% of repetitive task workers.

Employees at larger organisations also report stronger confidence than those working for smaller businesses.

AI reshapes job security concerns

The findings come as organisations accelerate the adoption of AI and automation, raising questions about how roles will evolve.

“Australia’s labour market continues to demonstrate resilience, with employment growth remaining steady and unemployment relatively low. Yet our research paints a different picture of how workers are feeling,” said Kylie Baullo, General Manager for Australia, New Zealand and Japan at ADP. 

She added, “Only one in four Australian workers believe their job is safe from elimination, suggesting many are thinking beyond whether they have a job today to whether their role will still exist in the years ahead.”

Employers can help reduce uncertainty by giving workers greater clarity about changing roles and investing in skills development, as per the report.

“As AI continues to reshape how work gets done, Australian employers have an opportunity to build confidence by clearly communicating how roles are evolving and investing in the skills employees need to adapt,” Baullo attributed.

“Organisations that prioritise continuous learning and give employees greater visibility into future career opportunities will be better placed to retain talent, improve engagement and build a more resilient workforce,” she also mentioned.

Job security linked to engagement and retention

The research also highlights the business impact of employees feeling secure at work.

Globally, workers who feel their jobs are secure are twice as likely to say they have no intention of leaving their employer. They are also six times more likely to be fully engaged and 3.3 times more likely to report high productivity.

“Job security has become a business issue, not just a workforce sentiment measure,” said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. 

“When employees feel confident about their future with an organisation, they are more likely to stay committed, perform at their best and contribute more effectively.” she added.

Richardson further commented, “Employers that pair honest communication with meaningful skills investment will be in a much stronger position to build a resilient workforce.”

Australia ahead of Asia-Pacific average

Across the 2026 global study, only 22% of workers strongly agree that their jobs are safe from elimination. No country surveyed recorded a majority of workers expressing confidence in their job security.

Australia performs better than the broader Asia-Pacific region, where just 18% of workers feel their jobs are secure.

Within the region, finance and insurance workers report the highest confidence at 25%, while accommodation and food services workers are the least confident at 14%.

The findings suggest that as workplaces undergo continued technological and demographic change, employers will need to focus not only on current employment but also on helping workers understand how their careers can evolve.