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Does your office skill still travel? Australia's AI redundancies and what Ugandan applicants should do

News · 2026-10-07 · 4 min read

An accountant in Kampala, a data clerk in Entebbe or a content writer anywhere in Uganda may have seen the same news this month: employment lawyers in Australia say they now handle redundancies of white-collar workers replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) on a weekly basis. Does that mean office skills no longer travel? Not exactly. The picture is mixed, and the useful thing is to see both sides.

The warning

An employment law specialist described AI-driven redundancy cases as fairly common now, mainly in copywriting, coding, data analytics and administration. She said lawyers were not thinking about it two years ago and her practice probably handles one such case each week. Australia, she said, has some protection because so many jobs are physical, but it is not ready at all for a major shift. She expects unions to ask in upcoming enterprise agreement talks for clauses that stop AI replacing employees, or for higher redundancy payments. In her view Australia is likely to wait and see, and is probably behind the US in AI adoption, which lets it watch the effects there first.

A business academic at a Sydney university added that the workforce may be unknowingly exposed because office jobs have grown while industries such as manufacturing have shrunk. Data also showed white-collar work in the US fell in 2025, with major staff cuts at some of the world's largest companies.

The reassurance

The federal government points to the opposite reading. Early data from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations indicates AI platforms have not yet produced a faster rate of change in the shape of the workforce, though the government calls these observations, not predictions. Its National AI Plan aims to spread the benefits of AI while keeping Australians safe, with secure, ongoing work central. It says benefits depend on supporting AI and digital skills and consulting workers on how AI is used at work. The government is building the capability to track labour market shifts, focusing on entry-level roles and workforce composition.

What workers say in surveys

• About half of Australians surveyed have not yet felt AI's impact on their work.
• 32 per cent would have chosen a different career had they known how widespread AI would become.
• About 40 per cent do not feel prepared for major changes.

The political argument

An independent senator for the ACT called for an overarching regulatory framework instead of piecemeal approaches and voluntary expectations, and backed a National Artificial Intelligence Act that the government has chosen not to proceed with. He said AI pushing unemployment to 10 per cent was not out of the question if the technology advanced too fast. The government's own line, from its Employment Minister's office, is that AI should be used to create good jobs, not threaten them. In March the government also released expectations for data centres built on five principles, including investing in Australian skills and jobs.

Steps for Ugandan applicants

1. Read the duty list before you apply and ask how the employer expects the role to change.
2. Build skills that sit beside AI tools: judgement, client work, specialist knowledge.
3. Keep UNEB results, Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) certificates and transcripts ready. A local qualification never automatically equals an Australian licence, skills assessment or registration.
4. Collect an Interpol police clearance if a visa or employer asks for one.
5. Use a verified profile such as Talent Tabloid to show your skills and work history, and check roles on the jobs page.

Common mistakes when the topic is AI

People either dismiss the issue or treat it as a ban on office hiring. Some rely on one forwarded post rather than reading both the lawyer's account and the government's data. Some forget that advisers need checking; for Australia look for a MARA registration, and for New Zealand a licensed immigration adviser or lawfully exempt person. Others overlook sectors with physical work. For wider context, read what AI groups want from skilled migration reform and what New Zealand's AI shake-up means for migrants.

Questions Ugandan readers ask

Should I give up on an office career?

No. Choose roles carefully and show the parts of your work that depend on people and judgement.

Is the government worried?

It says secure work is central to its approach and that early data shows no faster change so far.

Which professions were named?

Copywriting, coding, data analytics and administration.

Where can I see current rules for visas?

The official Home Affairs visa listing has them.

Main points to remember

• AI-linked redundancies are being reported weekly by employment lawyers.
• Government data so far shows no faster-than-usual change.
• Build human-centred skills and keep documents ready.
• Verify advisers and read duties carefully.

#office skills #ai #redundancy #australia #uganda #job market