Home topics news via pexels News News Five predictions for Australia’s shift work in 2026 Yajush Gupta December 17, 2025 With leaner teams and tighter labour markets, Emma Seymour from Deputy predicts five key shifts that will transform Australian shift work in 2026. What’s happening: Australian shift work is transforming as SMEs face leaner teams, tighter labour markets and rising costs. Deputy’s Better Together Report reveals 94% of shift workers say technology makes their job easier, whilst 51%of workplaces already use AI, though nearly half of workers don’t know it. Why this matters: The Federal Government’s National AI Plan includes $17 million to help SMEs adopt AI through the AI Adopt Program. With businesses balancing technology adoption and workforce challenges, understanding how AI will reshape shift work operations becomes critical for survival and growth in 2026. Australia’s shift work landscape is changing. As businesses grapple with leaner teams, tighter labour markets and mounting costs, artificial intelligence is emerging as both an opportunity and a challenge for the workforce that keeps economies running. Deputy’s recent Better Together Report shows just how much technology is shifting the ground beneath shift workers’ feet. The survey found that 94 per cent of shift workers say technology makes their job easier, and 32 per cent report being more productive when using it. Yet a striking paradox has emerged. Whilst 51 per cent of workplaces already use AI, nearly half of workers don’t realise the technology is in play. Only 25 per cent of workers have