Science & Tech · AI · 2 hrs ago
Regional Queensland jobs may be less exposed to AI than city roles
Research found about 30 per cent of regional Queensland work tasks could be exposed to AI automation.
The estimate comes from SGS Economics and Planning, using research by Jobs and Skills Australia and Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Brisbane had the highest reported exposure, at almost 40 per cent, while the Gold Coast was at 37.1 per cent.
The study measures tasks that could be automated, not jobs that will necessarily disappear.
Office-based professional work is more exposed because it often involves tasks AI can assist with or perform.
By contrast, jobs needing physical work or human contact may be harder to replace, including reef guiding, nursing and aged care.
Luke Gnocco, who runs marine tours in north Queensland, said guiding on the reef depends on hands-on and personal interaction.
The research suggests AI may affect city and regional work differently, but it does not give a timeline for changes.
About 30 per cent of work tasks across regional Queensland could be exposed to AI automation, according to research by SGS Economics and Planning.
The research found that Brisbane had the highest reported exposure among the listed locations, at almost 40 per cent.
Experts said regional jobs can be less exposed because many require physical work, local knowledge or human interaction.
Marine tourism operator Luke Gnocco said he did not expect AI to replace the hands-on work involved in reef tours.
The research drew on work by Jobs and Skills Australia and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
- Who
- SGS Economics and Planning studied AI exposure in Queensland; marine tourism operator Luke Gnocco and experts commented on the findings.
- What
- Research found about 30 per cent of work tasks across regional Queensland could be exposed to AI automation, with city locations generally more exposed.
- When
- The research is described as recent. The article was published on November 11, 2026.
- Where
- Regional Queensland and several Queensland cities, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Mackay.
- Why
- Many regional jobs require physical work, local knowledge, human relationships or interaction with natural environments, while city centres have more exposed knowledge and professional services jobs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Regional Queensland
- About 30 per cent of work tasks could be exposed to AI automation
- Brisbane
- Almost 40 per cent of work tasks at risk
- Gold Coast
- 37.1 per cent of work tasks at risk
- Sunshine Coast
- 36.4 per cent of work tasks at risk
- Cairns
- 36 per cent of work tasks at risk
- Mackay
- 34.9 per cent of work tasks at risk
What people are saying
With a reef tour guide, there's literally no part in the process that could be replaced by AI.
A lot of the knowledge jobs and professional services jobs are located in the city centres … and they're the jobs that are most exposed to AI automation.
What AI does is that it could assist with planning or with scheduling or with decision support, but you simply can't replace the physical execution of these tasks, unless you have very advanced robotics.