The survey is based on a wide range of data canvassing both the supply of skills and the demand for skills. It assesses each country on four specific issues \u2013 skills alignment (the ability of its university graduates to meet business needs), academic readiness (the capacity of its higher education system to produce \u2018future-ready\u2019 talent), future of work (its labour market flexibility), and economic transformation (its capacity to generate productivity and growth from its human capital). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unsurprisingly the US ranked number one on the QS World Future Skills Index. More surprising was that Australia came in second, and ahead of countries with more top universities (United Kingdom) and more technologically advanced manufacturing economies (Germany, South Korea, and China). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
QS World Future Skills Index 2027<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/qs-table.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Source: qs.com<\/p>\n
According to the report, Australia\u2019s strong and consistent performance indicates that its \u2018talent systems are well-aligned with labour market demand and broader economic transformation needs\u2019.<\/p>\n
The report stresses the impact of the balance in an economy between jobs that are augmented by AI and jobs that are automated (i.e. replaced) by AI. That balance will be a major factor in economic competitiveness in the medium to long term.<\/p>\n
Countries like Australia rank well from an AI transformation perspective \u2018not necessarily because they are adopting AI more rapidly, but because their economies are more concentrated in occupations where AI augments human capability rather than replaces it\u2019.<\/p>\n
Securing the benefits offered by an AI future requires more than just suitably qualified workers. Another key requirement is the digital infrastructure i.e. accessible, effective, and affordable internet and cloud computing.<\/p>\n
And a big part of that is data centres, facilities that most people had never heard of five years ago but that now dominate business headlines in Australia.<\/p>\n
Precise numbers are difficult to pin down but there are currently<\/a> close to 300 data centres in Australia. Significant operators include AirTrunk, NextDC<\/a>, Equinix<\/a>, Digital Realty, and Macquarie Technology Group. And of course, CDC Data Centres<\/a> which is nearly 50% owned by NZ-based Infratil. That stake is valued at around A$10 billion.<\/p>\n Goodman Group, the global property behemoth, is a developer<\/a> of data centres across Australasia, Asia, Europe, and the US.<\/p>\n Many of these companies are listed on the Australian stock market, offering investors exposure to the data centre industry. Collectively they are investing tens of billions of dollars in data centres with the current Australian pipeline estimated<\/a> at around A$150 billion.<\/p>\n And it\u2019s not just data centre developers and operators that will profit from the current boom. Australian energy and materials suppliers also stand to benefit. Copper is a major input<\/a> into the construction of data centres and the world\u2019s largest copper miner<\/a> is Australia\u2019s BHP.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In a sign of the growing economic significance of data centres, last month CBA, Australia\u2019s biggest bank, held its inaugural Accelerate AI summit<\/a>. The stated purpose of the summit was to bring together \u2018global visionaries, local changemakers, experts and business leaders to explore how AI-led transformation is taking hold across business, innovation and the Australian economy\u2019.<\/p>\n