Human Resource Management - Changing Face of Work in Australia

HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT

Human Resource Management 1
“Changing Face of Work in Australia”
The Australian workforce and nature of work are constant to change due to trends like
socio-demographical, environmental and technological. The workplaces in Australia are
becoming more diverse with the growing number of older Australians working for longer.
Such diversity is also taking place due to the fact that Australians tend to live longer and
more of the years lived are liberal from the different restrictions on their routine activities. In
the case of men, average life expectancy is 79 years of age whereas women are anticipated to
live almost 84 years. Almost all of such years are free of infirmity. It indicates that
Australians generally require to work longer in order to assist themselves and save for
retirement. The Australian workplaces are also becoming progressively enthusiastic for the
offerings by the older Australians as the workforce. Moreover, the organizations concentrated
on aged women’s employments are future-proofing their employees and positioning the
organization for efficiency (Noe, et al. 2017).
The rapid leap of change, innovative technologies, globalization, enthusiasm for
greater work control, robotics and shift in the industry have made advancements in the kind
of work in which Australians are involved. The advent of the gig economy has been
characterized by short-term and momentary work engagements. The technology in the
Australian workplaces has facilitated the progression along with offering platforms for
contracting for work. The retail sector has been also distorted through the usage of the
internet. The consumer demands for the online retailing has reshaped the industry. The
advancement made in technology is assisting and hampering working lives (Myerson &
Bichard, 2016). The technological advancement generally makes work easier but also de-
enrich job roles, declines wages, and upsurges work intensity and demands. As long as the
international economy is continuing to change, the disruption in the technology will be
experienced more. Therefore, the job prospects accessible to Australians will be constant to
change. There is growth in the non-standard work and casualization of the labor workers. The
individuals desire to work in casual working hours but the large organizations are depending
more on the casual workforce. Although the people generally hired are desiring more
permanent work arrangements. On the other side, varying nature of work and the methods
work is organized and performed has formed different challenges. Such changes have
increased control and flexibility in the labor market. It has even increased the risk of mass
exploitation of workers mainly those whoa re young and born abroad. The factors like self-
employment, casual work, freelance work, and fixed-term contracts have generated an

Human Resource Management 2
augmented risk of susceptibility and acquaintance to poor working conditions (Howard &
Williams, 2017).
The trends influencing the varying nature of work in Australia are increasing incomes
and consumption, aging populations and advancement and deployment of technology. It has
been experienced that international consumption can cultivate by $23 trillion in the period of
2015-2030. In such concern, the majority is suspected to come from the increasing middle
class in Australia. As the income is increasing, the customers often spend more on all the
groups although the spending patterns are also shifting (Owens, et al. 2016). The more jobs
have been created in concerns like leisure activities, consumer products, housing, financial
and telecommunication services, healthcare, housing, and education. Due to the increase in
incomes, new jobs have been created. On the other side, the aging population is also shaping
the future of work (Murphy, et al. 2018). As people are aging, they are likely to spend more
on healthcare along with personal services. It will form substantial demand for a range of
professions comprising nurses, doctors and health technicians along with home health and
personal care aides in Australia. The advancement and deployment of technology have led to
an increase in jobs concerning development. It comprises of engineers, computer scientists,
and IT administrators. The entire spending on technology will also enhance by over 50% in
the coming ten years. Almost half of the IT services both in-house IT workers within and
outside the organization. The number of workers employed in IT companies is less as
compared to healthcare or construction. Although these are high-wage occupations. In the
coming years, the advancement and disposition of technology can form a 20-50 million job
(Heywood & Laurence, 2018).
The HRM implication to the trends influencing the nature of work in Australia is job
design, engagement, and retention. The increasing income of the workers is a major trend in
influencing the changing nature of work in Australia. The job design has a great role in
deciding the income of the workers. The workers are paid as per the tasks assigned to them.
The jobs are allocated with specifying method, content, and link of the job to gratify
technological and organizational necessities along with the personal requirements of the
jobholders. The job design anticipates employees to perform within a specific period. The
employees identify the tasks which need completion. The motivation works as a force that is
liable for the direction and perseverance of the effort. The reward systems also have a great
role in job design. The rewards comprise job security, bonuses, compensation and benefits
which are greatly linked with the increasing income and consumption of the workers (Patel,