Economics & Business · Year 7 · The World of Work and Business · Term 2

The Evolving Australian Workplace

Exploring how technology and globalization are altering the way Australians work.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9HE7K04

About This Topic

The evolving Australian workplace topic guides Year 7 students to explore technology and globalization's impact on how Australians work. Students analyze automation's shift toward skills like problem-solving and digital fluency for future jobs. They compare gig economy advantages, such as flexible hours for young workers, with challenges like uncertain pay and no paid leave. Students also examine global competition's varied effects on wage growth, from pressure in manufacturing to gains in tech services.

This aligns with AC9HE7K04 by explaining influences on work practices. Australian contexts, including robotics in mining and platforms like Airtasker, connect concepts to local realities. Students build economic thinking by linking personal aspirations to broader trends, preparing for informed career choices.

Active learning suits this topic well. Role-plays of gig negotiations or group debates on automation policies let students test ideas in safe settings. These approaches make abstract changes concrete, spark critical discussions, and improve retention through peer collaboration.

Key Questions

1. Analyze how automation is changing the skills required for the jobs of the future.
2. Compare the benefits and drawbacks of the gig economy for young workers.
3. Explain how global competition influences wage growth in different sectors.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how automation, such as robotic process automation in accounting, alters the specific skills needed for future employment.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of gig economy platforms, like Uber Eats or Airtasker, for young Australian workers.
• Explain how global competition in industries like car manufacturing impacts wage growth in Australia.
• Evaluate the role of digital literacy and problem-solving skills in adapting to technological changes in the workplace.
• Identify emerging job roles created by technological advancements and globalization.

Before You Start

Types of Businesses and Their Roles

Why: Understanding different business structures helps students contextualize how technology and globalization affect various sectors.

Basic Concepts of Supply and Demand

Why: This foundational economic concept is necessary to understand how global competition can influence wages and job availability.

Introduction to Technology and Its Uses

Why: Students need a basic understanding of common technologies to grasp how automation and digital tools are transforming the workplace.

Key Vocabulary

Automation	The use of technology, such as robots or software, to perform tasks previously done by humans. This can change the nature of jobs and the skills required.
Gig Economy	A labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, often facilitated by digital platforms. It offers flexibility but may lack traditional employee benefits.
Globalization	The increasing interconnectedness of economies and societies worldwide, leading to greater competition and collaboration across national borders. This affects industries and job markets.
Digital Literacy	The ability to use digital technology, communication tools, and networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information. It is crucial for many modern jobs.
Skills Gap	The difference between the skills employers need and the skills the workforce possesses. Technology and globalization can widen or change this gap.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Automation will eliminate all jobs.

What to Teach Instead

Many jobs evolve or new ones emerge, like coding roles in automated factories. Skill-mapping activities help students visualize shifts, while group discussions reveal historical examples from Australia's car industry transition.

Common Misconception

Gig economy offers only freedom with no downsides.

What to Teach Instead

It lacks superannuation and job security, key for young workers. Debates expose these risks through peer arguments, helping students weigh options realistically.

Common Misconception

Globalization always drives down Australian wages.

What to Teach Instead

Competitive sectors like tech see wage rises from exports. Data hunts correct this by comparing sector stats, fostering nuanced economic views.

Active Learning Ideas

Debate Pairs: Gig Economy Trade-offs

Pairs research one pro and one con of gig work for young Australians, using sources like Fair Work Australia. They present to another pair, then switch roles to rebut. Conclude with a class vote on net benefits.

35 min·Pairs

Skill Mapping Stations: Automation Impacts

Set up stations for sectors like retail, health, and agriculture. Small groups rotate, listing skills automation changes and new ones needed. Share findings in a whole-class gallery walk.

50 min·Small Groups

Wage Data Hunt: Global Competition

In small groups, students use ABS data to track wage trends in export vs domestic sectors. Plot graphs, discuss competition's role, and predict future shifts.

40 min·Small Groups

Future Job Pitch: Whole Class Challenge

Individuals brainstorm automation-resilient jobs, then pitch in pairs. Class votes on most viable, citing globalization factors.

30 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• Many Australian cafes now use automated ordering systems and robotic baristas, changing the roles of human staff to focus more on customer service and problem-solving rather than repetitive tasks.
• Young Australians are increasingly finding work through the gig economy via apps like Deliveroo or Fancy Hands, allowing them to set their own hours but often without guaranteed income or sick leave.
• The Australian automotive manufacturing sector has faced significant challenges due to global competition, leading to job losses and a shift towards requiring different skills in related service industries.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a scenario: 'A local bakery is considering automating its bread-making process.' Ask them to write two sentences explaining one skill that might become less important for bakers and one skill that might become more important.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Is the gig economy a good or bad thing for young workers in Australia?' Facilitate a class debate where students must present at least one benefit and one drawback, referencing specific examples like Airtasker or Uber.

Quick Check

Show images of different technologies used in workplaces (e.g., a self-checkout machine, a drone for surveying, a video conferencing screen). Ask students to identify the technology and briefly explain how it might change the jobs of people working in that area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does automation change skills needed in Australian jobs?

Automation replaces routine tasks, demanding human skills like creativity, empathy, and tech adaptability. In Australia, this means more demand for roles in renewable energy design or aged care coordination. Students can explore via case studies of firms like Atlassian, building awareness of lifelong learning needs. (62 words)

What are gig economy pros and cons for young Australian workers?

Pros include flexible schedules fitting school and entry-level earnings via apps like Uber Eats. Cons involve irregular income, no sick pay, and super gaps, per Fair Work data. Balanced views prepare students for decisions, emphasizing contracts and savings. (58 words)

How can active learning teach the evolving Australian workplace?

Role-plays simulate gig negotiations or automation job interviews, making changes tangible. Group data analysis of ABS stats reveals patterns in wages and skills. Debates build argumentation skills while connecting global trends to local lives. These methods boost engagement, critical thinking, and retention over lectures. (64 words)

How does global competition affect wage growth in Australia?

It pressures low-skill sectors like textiles with cheaper imports, slowing wages, but boosts high-skill areas like mining exports. ABS data shows variance: services grew 3% yearly, manufacturing lagged. Students learn through sector comparisons, understanding policy responses like skills training. (60 words)