Work in Australia is changing fast. AI is reshaping how jobs are done, which skills matter most, and how careers are built. As this pace accelerates, many professionals are looking for clear, practical guidance on how to stay relevant and get ahead. LinkedIn and Microsoft marked the Australian launch of Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI, a new book published by HarperCollins, designed to build confidence, clarity and purpose for professionals as AI becomes part of everyday work.

Written by LinkedIn’s CEO and EVP of Microsoft Office and Copilot, Ryan Roslansky, and LinkedIn Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, Aneesh Raman, Open to Work draws on insights from over a billion LinkedIn members, alongside Microsoft research. Grounded in real-world experiences from people at work today, the book offers a clear, practical approach that shows how people can use AI as a tool to get ahead at work.

Matt Tindale, Managing Director, LinkedIn, Australia & NZ, said:“The world of work is changing faster than most of us expected, and it’s okay to find that daunting. But the data tells us that Australians are more ready to adapt than they might think. A new LinkedIn poll found that 78% of Australians feel either relieved or curious when AI takes on tasks they used to do at work – and that openness is exactly the mindset that gets people ahead. Open to Work is a practical guide to channeling that momentum – focusing on the creativity, curiosity and communication that no machine can replicate.”

To mark the Australian launch, LinkedIn hosted an event in Sydney, bringing together experts in talent retention and recruitment, LinkedIn Top Voices, and industry leaders for a panel discussion on how AI is reshaping work in Australia. 

The panel featured Brendan Wong, Editor of LinkedIn News and LinkedIn Career Expert; Sarah Carney, National CTO at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand; Sam Koslowski, Co‑Founder of The Daily Aus; and Jessica Farrell, Chief People Officer at Publicis Groupe ANZ, who shared practical perspectives on how professionals of all ages can adapt and get ahead as work continues to evolve.

Sarah Carney, National CTO at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, said: “AI is moving from something people read about to something they’re expected to use at work – and that can feel like a big shift. The most important step is to start small, stay curious, and practice, because confidence comes from doing. When you pair AI literacy with human strengths like judgement, communication and creativity, it becomes a real advantage in your day-to-day work and your career. That’s why resources that share practical guidance like Open to Work are so important.” 

The changing reality of work in Australia 

A new LinkedIn poll captures where Australians are landing emotionally, with many approaching the shift with openness. When asked how they feel when AI takes over tasks they used to do at work, 42% say they feel relieved because it frees them up, and 36% say they are curious about what comes next. Only 17% say they feel threatened.

While many Australians recognise the opportunity AI presents, the pace of change can feel daunting. More than a third (37%) of Australian professionals say they feel overwhelmed by how quickly they’re expected to understand and use AI at work, yet nearly two‑thirds (63%) believe those who resist AI tools risk falling behind. At the same time, trust in human judgement remains strong, with 82% saying trusted human insight is irreplaceable, even as AI becomes more advanced.

Recent LinkedIn research shows how rapidly this shift is playing out:

• Hiring for AI talent has grown more than 300% over the past nine years, creating 1.3 million new roles, with 8 in 10 C‑suite leaders prioritising hiring someone with AI confidence over experience alone.
• Skills on the Rise data shows that AI and data skills now make up the largest share of Australia’s fastest‑growing skills in 2026, with ‘Prompt Engineering’ emerging as a sought‑after capability.
• AI literacy is accelerating across Australian workplaces, up 32% year‑on‑year across firms and 60% in large enterprises.
• The majority (90%) of Chief People Officers in Australia expect work to be organised around skills rather than traditional job titles as roles evolve.

Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI is now available in Australia via major retailers and online platforms.