Growing AI use drives job security fears: survey

Workers feel more fearful, less supported and more heavily monitored when using artificial intelligence, says a union survey.

Workers believe employer surveillance is harming their wellbeing. Picture: supplied

Seventy per cent of finance sector workers believe artificial intelligence threatens their job security, and more than half believe employer surveillance is harming their wellbeing, a union survey of more than 1000 finance sector workers has found.

The Finance Sector Union survey found workers were using AI more than ever but felt more fearful, less supported and more heavily monitored while using the technology.

Thirty-six per cent of finance workers said they often used AI, almost double the 19 per cent who said they did in 2024.

Employee belief that AI threatens their job security was highest among Commonwealth Bank staff where it was 81 per cent, with 73 per cent of workers surveyed saying their employer had not discussed how AI would affect their job.

Half of the workers surveyed described monitoring as high or very high and more than half said it was harming their wellbeing. Only 30 per cent said they felt prepared to work alongside AI.

Women and older workers remain the most disadvantaged, reporting lower confidence, less access to training and more negative experiences.

The FSU said “compared to last year, every measure has worsened – fear is rising, transparency remains low and surveillance concerns have intensified”.

The union’s national assistant secretary, Nicole McPherson, said while AI use had doubled in a year, “worker protections have not kept pace and workers are paying the price”.

“Workers are being pushed into using AI without consultation, training or transparency. Lawmakers and employers have completely failed to match the speed of this change,” she said.

“A digital just transition is essential. Workers must be consulted, trained and protected. Their data must be safe and surveillance limited. And if AI changes or replaces roles, workers must have real pathways to redeployment.

“The four pillars of a just transition are the foundations of a fair digital future.”

Among workers quoted in the report, one said: “I feel like I am constantly being watched. Every click and pause is monitored and it makes you feel anxious all day.”

Another employee said: “We get told a new AI tool is coming in on Monday and by Friday it’s already in use in our workflow with no consultation.

A third worker said: “AI is meant to take away the boring parts of the job, but no one is training us for what comes next.”