Australians are being urged to embrace the robots and other new technologies that will replace “routine” workers in the decade ahead, as new findings debunk fears of a hit to 5 million jobs from the digital revolution.

The nation’s peak business group is predicting a huge gain from the transformation of the workplace, citing research that suggests the new wave of automation could add $250 billion to the economy.

"If done well, it will be a force for good": Business Council of Australia's Jennifer Westacott on technological change in the workplace. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

“Change is already upon us. These forces are happening today,” Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott will say on Wednesday in a speech that confronts the anxiety about the threat to jobs.

“There is little evidence to suggest that technological change is speeding up the rate of job loss in our community.”