How is economic globalisation reshaping work and livelihoods in Australia?
Analyse how economic globalisation and technological change are reshaping work, employment and livelihoods in contemporary Australian society.
How economic globalisation connects markets and labour, the shift from manufacturing to services, the rise of the gig economy and automation, and the consequences for work and security in Australia.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
You must explain economic globalisation, analyse how it and technology reshape work, and assess the consequences for Australian workers, with examples.
Economic globalisation
Economic globalisation is the deepening connection between national economies. Goods, services, money, investment and labour move across borders more freely than ever, linked by trade agreements, multinational companies and global supply chains. A product sold in Australia may be designed in one country, assembled from parts made in several others, and financed globally. This integration brings cheaper goods and new markets, but it also means local jobs and industries are exposed to competition and decisions made far away.
The changing structure of work
Globalisation has changed what Australians do for work. Much manufacturing has declined as production moved offshore to lower-cost countries, including the end of local car manufacturing. Employment has shifted toward services, knowledge work and care work. This structural shift advantages workers with education and adaptable skills, while disadvantaging those whose industries have contracted, often concentrated in particular regions. The result is a more globally connected but also more unequal labour market.
The gig economy and insecure work
A major change is the rise of the gig economy, where people work as independent contractors taking on short tasks arranged through digital platforms rather than holding permanent jobs. This brings flexibility but also insecurity: gig workers often lack the leave, superannuation and protections of employees. More broadly, casual and contract work has grown, shifting risk from employers onto workers. This raises contemporary debates about fairness, rights and what counts as a secure livelihood.
Automation and the future of work
Automation and artificial intelligence are changing which tasks humans do. Routine and predictable work is most exposed to replacement, while work requiring creativity, judgement and human interaction is, for now, less so. This does not necessarily mean fewer jobs overall, but it means changing jobs and a premium on adaptable skills and lifelong learning. The pace and fairness of this transition is a key question for the future of work in Australia.
Australian examples
The closure of Australian car manufacturing illustrates how global competition reshapes regional employment. The growth of food delivery and ride platforms shows the gig economy in action and the debate over worker rights it has produced. The expansion of remote and digital work, accelerated during the COVID-19 period, shows technology changing where and how work happens. Skills shortages in some sectors alongside job loss in others show the uneven nature of the change.
Connection to the rest of the course
This dot point applies globalisation specifically to work and connects it to technology and to social change. It links to inequality, since the changing world of work creates new winners and losers, and to social movements, since unions and campaigns respond to insecure work. The future of work is a strong contemporary issue for the folio and external investigation, with abundant Australian data on employment, the gig economy and automation to analyse from multiple perspectives.