Technology Task Force Pilot – Occupational Analysis

Australia is undergoing a period of accelerated digital transformation, with new and emerging technologies reshaping work faster than ever before. To ensure the nation leaves no worker behind, new approaches are needed to understand how technology will alter jobs, skills, and training. Australia must strengthen its ability to anticipate workforce change, not just respond to it. 

The Technology Futures Taskforce (TFT) will focus on identifying new and emerging technologies set to reshape four occupations and potentially create significant demand for upskilling or reskilling.

To do this, the project will pilot a methodology that combines AI-driven analysis with expert industry insights to validate the findings within an Australian context. Each of ISA’s Strategic Workforce Planning Committees (Aviation, Maritime, Rail, and Transport and Logistics) has selected one occupation.

This project builds on the TFT Phase I Pilot completed in 2025. It will work toward proof of concept by stress-testing the methodology, building industry awareness and understanding of emerging change, and enabling training packages to better anticipate future skill needs.

The TFT will act as an ‘early warning’ mechanism for employers, employees and the national skills system by focusing on four occupations subject to significant technological change.

As a result, it will:

• Help employers understand the likely implications for upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce in advance of new technology adoption; 
• Help employees understand the skills they are likely to need as their occupation evolves and thereby strengthen their value in the workplace and job market;
• Ensure the nationally endorsed Aviation (AVI), Maritime (MAR) and Transport and Logistics (TLI) training packages anticipate the skills required for new and emerging technologies, and in doing so, supports the national skills system’s ability to build a highly productive and globally competitive workforce.

This project will produce four key outputs to help prepare industry, governments, and training providers for the future of work.

1. Occupation Reports
   A report for each of the four selected occupations, outlining the impact of new and emerging technologies on skills and knowledge, and future workforce needs.
2. Training Package Mapping
   The Occupation Reports will include an analysis of the implications for the Aviation (AVI), Maritime (MAR), Transport and Logistic and Rail (TLI) Training Package products that may need updating to reflect the impact of emerging technologies.
3. Technology Trend Radar (Prototype)
   An interactive, visual tool that tracks technology trends across eight occupations (four from Phase I and four from Phase II), helping users explore each technology in greater detail and understand the likely implications, timescales, and impact. 
4. Methodology Report
   A report detailing the approach used to assess technology impacts, designed so the method can be applied consistently across future occupations and sectors.

The project is due to be completed by 27 August 2027.