Up to 70 per cent of Australian jobs could be at threat as a new wave of automation sweeps the world's workplaces over the next few decades, CSIRO researchers have warned.

According to a report by Pricewaterhouse Cooper (PwC) from April this year, 44 per cent — or 5.1 million current Australian jobs — are at high risk of being affected by computerisation and technology over the next 20 years.

But director of digital at CSIRO Adrian Turner said 70 per cent of today's workforce could be at risk in the years to come.

"There will be a lot of job displacement as more things are automated," he told 7.30.

"I think Australia is particularly vulnerable if you look at the reliance that we have on the services sector and you could argue that 70 per cent of today's employee base is somewhat in the line of fire.

"This is unprecedented. This shift that we are undergoing right now is as transformational and as big as the move from agriculture to manufacturing."

What machines don't have: social and creative intelligence

Automation is already being used for tasks as diverse as milking cows and running mines.

From its Perth operations centre, Rio Tinto controls its giant mining vehicles digging its Pilbara iron ore thousands of kilometres away, without a human in sight.

But now, the wave of digital disruption has also arrived in the cities, where it will wreak massive changes on middle class jobs.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 7 minutes 31 seconds 7 m Is your job going to disappear in the digital revolution?

The jobs most likely to resist automation are the ones that require high levels of "social intelligence, technical ability and creative intelligence", according to the PwC report.

That means that doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and information communication and technology professionals are least likely to be affected.

But accountants and bookkeepers, checkout operators, wood machinists, and gardeners are more at risk of having their jobs automated in the next 20 years.

But even for those professions, the digital revolution can bring opportunity as well as dangers.

Kim Maine is a bookkeeper determined not to be defeated by the digital revolution.

Her business is growing — by swallowing bookkeeping outsourced from other companies.

"It can be very scary, but it's the old adage, 'if you can't beat them join them'," she said.

"This is how the whole world is going, so if you can't get online and get digital, then I think you're going to struggle with a small business and from the bookkeeper point of view."

What jobs to get to avoid being replaced by a machine

PwC economics partner and report author Jeremy Thorpe said there were two batches of careers that would be heavily influenced but not replaced by digital disruption: technology and personal service-driven jobs.

In a global economy increasingly driven by data, digital technologies and innovation, the working economy will require more employees trained in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

"Technology will continue to be a huge part of the working economy," Mr Thorpe said.

"Personal services will be enhanced but not replaced, you can't replace care and touch.

"For example, haircutting is a job that will always be in demand because hair never stops growing."

Training today's children, tomorrow's jobs

Mr Thorpe singled out engineering, IT management and database and system administrators as some of the technology-driven jobs that would still need to be done by humans in the future.

In the personal service sector, jobs such as nurses and midwives, social welfare, and hospitality will continue to need the human touch.

Rio Tinto controls its giant mining vehicles digging its Pilbara iron ore thousands of kilometres away. ( 7pm TV News WA )

But experts are warning that big changes will be needed in industry, government, and education as Australia faces up to the necessity of equipping today's children for tomorrow's jobs.

"This is a moment of time for Australia," Mr Turner said.

"The next three to five years, if we really don't make good progress here, my concern is that we will never catch up."

In Australia the number of students graduating from STEM courses is flat compared to the rest of the world, according to the PwC report.

In 2012, 16 per cent of students completed STEM courses compared to 52 per cent in Singapore.

Mr Thorpe said STEM would become a key part of education in the future.

"It's not about training for a particular skill," he said

"Education is now about learning how to think."

- Adapted from an original 7.30 report by Matt Peacock