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Admin, coding, copywriting, data: how AI redundancies in Australia affect Zimbabwean applicants

News · 2026-10-07 · 4 min read

Four kinds of office work were named by an Australian employment lawyer as the most affected by artificial intelligence (AI): copywriting, coding, data analytics and administration. If you are in Harare or Bulawayo and your skills sit in one of those areas, here is a calm guide to what has been said and what you can do.

The lawyer's account

The specialist said it had become fairly common to take on cases of office workers made redundant because of AI, and that her practice probably handles one every week. Many duties in those fields can now be done by AI to some extent. She said it was not something lawyers were even considering two years ago. She believes Australia has some protection through its high number of physical jobs but is not at all ready for a major shift. She expects unions to push for clauses that stop employees being replaced with AI, or for higher redundancy payments, and she mentioned that the media union last year struck a deal with an independent publisher that AI would not replace human workers. She thinks Australia will probably take a wait-and-see approach, partly because it is probably behind the US in AI adoption.

The wider evidence

A business academic at a Sydney university said office jobs have grown while industries like manufacturing have shrunk, which may have left the workforce exposed. White-collar work in the US fell in 2025, with major staff cuts at some of the world's largest companies. In surveys, about half of Australians have not yet felt AI's impact, 32 per cent would have chosen a different career had they known how widespread AI would become, and about 40 per cent do not feel prepared.

The government's reply

The federal government wants to capture the productivity benefits of AI while keeping Australians safe, and says secure, ongoing work is central. It says the benefits depend on AI and digital skills and on meaningful consultation with workers. A spokesperson for the Employment Minister said AI should be used to create good jobs, not threaten them. Early data from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations suggests the rate of change has not been faster than usual, though these are observations rather than predictions. The government has also acted to set up an AI Safety Institute. An independent senator, meanwhile, wants an overarching framework and said unemployment reaching 10 per cent was not out of the question if the technology advanced too fast.

A step-by-step response

1. Name your role honestly: is it mostly drafting, routine code, data summaries or admin, or does it depend on people and judgement?
2. Show the second kind of work on your CV. Build AI CV can help you present results clearly.
3. Gather ZIMSEC results, HEXCO certificates, transcripts and references. A local qualification never automatically equals an Australian licence, skills assessment or registration.
4. Ask the Criminal Record Office about police clearance if a visa or employer asks for it.
5. Look at the jobs page for roles in sectors where hands-on skill matters.

Common mistakes with a fast-moving story

Some applicants decide AI makes every office job pointless. Others assume a single lawyer's account represents the whole labour market, when government data points the other way for now. A few take advice from anyone who answers confidently; for Australia check a MARA registration, and for New Zealand look for a licensed immigration adviser or lawfully exempt person. To keep reading, see why skilled migration pathways matter more as AI reshapes white-collar work, a plan B for aspiring tech migrants and New Zealand's AI shake-up.

What Zimbabwean readers ask

Which roles did the lawyer name?

Copywriting, coding, data analytics and administration.

Has the government said AI will cause job losses?

It describes early data as observations and says secure, ongoing work is central to its approach.

What did the survey say?

About half have not felt AI's impact, 32 per cent would pick a different career, and about 40 per cent feel unprepared.

Where do I check current visa rules?

The official visa pages list them.

Points to keep in mind

• Copywriting, coding, data analytics and administration are the roles named.
• Government data suggests no faster change so far, although lawyers report weekly cases.
• Show judgement and people skills on your CV.
• Prepare documents and check advisers.

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