Work & CareersWorkplaceAustralian Computer SocietyPrint articleAug 17, 2026 – 9.25amAustralia’s new AI framework promises to coordinate what has so far been a fragmented, sector-by-sector approach to the technology, but this new unified strategy will only succeed if the nation has the skilled workforce to implement it.Digital skills contributed an estimated $476 billion to the Australian economy in 2025, according to the Digital Pulse 2026 report, produced annually by Deloitte Access Economics for the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the professional association for Australia’s ICT sector.Roughly 1.1 million “near-tech” professionals in AI-adjacent roles could turn to technology careers without training. The technology sector alone added $142 billion, with exports exceeding $12 billion. These technology workers are at the forefront of AI disruption and are set to build and govern AI as core national infrastructure as part of Anthony Albanese’s recent, far-reaching AI policy declarations.“We can’t stop it, and we wouldn’t want to. But we can shape it, and we have to,” Albanese said, as he unveiled the government’s new Office of AI within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.The prime minister has said Australia’s AI standards will be “world’s best practice”, but the framework will succeed only if Australia has the skilled workforce to implement it, according to Australian Computer Society chief executive Dr Prins Ralston.Advertisement“We can’t stop it, and we wouldn’t want to. But we can shape it, and we have to.”— Anthony Albanese, on the advance of artificial intelligence (AI).This means recognised professional credentials and common capability standards must form part of the policy architecture, Ralston says.“Ultimately, AI will be shaped by the people who build it, govern it and use it,” he says.“The Office of AI, national standards and data centre rules solve half the equation. The other half is whether Australia has enough professionalised, credentialled workers to implement, audit and govern the systems those standards apply to.”Strategy needed to raise workforce capabilityTreasurer Jim Chalmers has positioned AI as a driver of productivity growth, but those gains ultimately will depend on workers who can deploy it safely and effectively.The government has not yet announced dedicated funding for AI retraining. Singapore, by comparison, invests around $1 billion a year in retraining and AI-resilient career transitions.“You cannot legislate your way to productivity gains without the professionals who can put AI to work safely and effectively.”— Dr Prins RalstonAccording to Ralston, Australia should establish a funded national AI and cyber micro-credentialling program with clear targets and a delivery mechanism.“If AI is genuinely central to lifting productivity and easing pressure on rates, then workforce capability is the delivery mechanism,” he says.“You cannot legislate your way to productivity gains without the professionals who can put AI to work safely and effectively.”Australian Computer Society chief executive Dr Prins Ralston.  The Digital Pulse report also highlights the changing shape of the workforce. Over the past five years, 40 per cent of new technology workers entered through workplace training, industry-recognised credentials and self-directed pathways rather than tertiary education.That diversity broadens the talent pool but increases the need for consistent ways to assess capability across different educational and career backgrounds. “Professionalisation” addresses this challenge by combining technical competence with common standards, ethics, accountability and ongoing development. It gives employers greater confidence in people responsible for high-trust systems and helps workers demonstrate transferable skills.The prime minister has repeatedly stressed that AI should create “good jobs”, not replace them. Ralston says the credibility of that promise depends on whether displaced or at-risk workers, including older Australians, actually receive funded pathways into AI-adjacent roles.Funded pathways could also help experienced workers, including Australians over 45, update their skills and move into AI-adjacent roles without starting again.“If government wants that promise to mean something, it needs to fund the pathway, not just make the pledge,” Ralston says.Pivoting to source needed skills The latest Digital Pulse report identified 1.1 million “near-tech” professionals in adjacent roles who could transition into technology careers with training. This group includes 661,000 women who could potentially move into technology roles within six months.“Our research tells us where the sector is heading,” Ralston says. “For years, we have highlighted the need for greater professionalisation. It is more critical than ever with AI part of the equation.”The report estimates that increasing professionalisation could deliver a $25 billion economic dividend. Accredited training and common skills frameworks such as Skills for the Information Age are associated with a 7.3 per cent wage premium, equivalent to about $8600 a year for the average technology worker.Nearly two in five businesses report that digital skills gaps have increased their cybersecurity risks. CyberPath, an ACS-led, government-backed pilot, brings together industry, government and education to develop consistent cybersecurity career pathways, skills requirements and recognition frameworks.The next test for government will be whether its regulatory framework is matched by investment in people skills.“Investing in skills is investing in our people,” Ralston says. “It is how we lift productivity and build the future here, rather than importing it from somewhere else.”For more information, visit acs.org.auSponsored by Australian Computer SocietyThis content has been funded by an advertiser and written by the Nine commercial editorial team.SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleRead MoreAustralian Computer SocietyFetching latest articles