AI is driving growth in jobs, research and innovation across Australia
Australia's first comprehensive AI ecosystem snapshot provides baseline data that APS agencies can use to contextualise AI workforce, adoption, and innovation strategies.
Key points
- NAIC and CSIRO's 2025 AI Ecosystem Report shows AI hiring has tripled since 2015, with 1,532 organisations recruiting AI-skilled workers in 2024.
- Australia holds just 0.18% of global AI patents over the past decade, flagging a commercialisation gap that upcoming government plans aim to address.
- The report references an upcoming AI Capability Plan and Strategic Examination of R&D — both worth tracking for APS workforce and innovation policy implications.
Summary
The National AI Centre, in partnership with CSIRO, has released the 2025 Australia's Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem report, providing a data-driven overview of AI growth across the country. Key findings include a tripling of AI hiring since 2015, a 135% rise in AI research publications, and growth in AI patents from 170 to 629 between 2015 and 2024. However, Australia's share of global AI patents remains just 0.18%, pointing to a persistent gap between research output and commercialisation. The report also announces a relaunched AI Directory to connect SMEs, government, and industry with local AI providers, and flags forthcoming government work including an AI Capability Plan and Strategic Examination of R&D.
Implications for Australian agencies
- Consider Agencies developing AI workforce or capability strategies could use the report's hiring and skills demand data to benchmark current and planned APS AI capability uplift efforts.
- Monitor Policy and strategy teams may want to monitor the forthcoming AI Capability Plan and Strategic Examination of R&D for guidance that may shape agency-level AI investment and workforce planning.
- Consider Procurement and innovation teams could assess the relaunched AI Directory as a potential reference point for sourcing Australian AI service providers.
Implications are AI-generated. Starting points, not advice.
"AI is driving growth in jobs, research and innovation across Australia" Source: National AI Centre Published: 24 June 2025 URL: https://www.industry.gov.au/news/ai-driving-growth-jobs-research-and-innovation-across-australia The National AI Centre, in partnership with CSIRO, has released the 2025 Australia's Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem report, providing a data-driven overview of AI growth across the country. Key findings include a tripling of AI hiring since 2015, a 135% rise in AI research publications, and growth in AI patents from 170 to 629 between 2015 and 2024. However, Australia's share of global AI patents remains just 0.18%, pointing to a persistent gap between research output and commercialisation. The report also announces a relaunched AI Directory to connect SMEs, government, and industry with local AI providers, and flags forthcoming government work including an AI Capability Plan and Strategic Examination of R&D. Implications for Australian agencies: - [Consider] Agencies developing AI workforce or capability strategies could use the report's hiring and skills demand data to benchmark current and planned APS AI capability uplift efforts. - [Monitor] Policy and strategy teams may want to monitor the forthcoming AI Capability Plan and Strategic Examination of R&D for guidance that may shape agency-level AI investment and workforce planning. - [Consider] Procurement and innovation teams could assess the relaunched AI Directory as a potential reference point for sourcing Australian AI service providers. Retrieved from SIMS, 18 May 2026.