Commonwealth Bank Unveils $90 Million Future Workforce Program to Build an AI-Ready Organisation

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has launched a $90 million, three-year Future Workforce Program designed to equip its employees with the skills needed in an increasingly AI-driven workplace. The initiative reflects the bank’s strategic effort to prepare its workforce for the changing nature of work — where artificial intelligence and technology reshape how tasks are performed and how roles evolve. The program, which includes new career-mapping tools, training pathways and skill development platforms, is being rolled out amid broader debates about automation, workforce transition and the impact of AI in the financial services industry.

CBA chief executive Matt Comyn said the investment represents a “structural redesign of how skills are developed and how careers will evolve” within the bank, emphasising that businesses and workers must get ahead of AI-driven change even though the pace and impact of automation remain uncertain.

Key Highlights

• $90 million investment: Commonwealth Bank commits A$90 million over three years to its Future Workforce Program.
• AI-ready focus: The initiative prepares staff for the changing nature of work, with a particular emphasis on AI and future skills.
• Grow Your Career portal: A new internal platform helps employees map current skills to potential roles and identify training gaps.
• Wide-reaching training: AI-focused training has already reached more than 30,000 employees.
• Skills beyond AI: The program includes broader skills development, such as judgement, critical thinking, problem-solving and empathy.
• Workforce evolution: The initiative aims to support staff in transitioning into higher-value roles as technology reshapes work.

What the Future Workforce Program Entails

1. Grow Your Career Portal

At the heart of the Future Workforce Program is the Grow Your Career platform — a digital tool that maps every job at CBA against current skills, experience and career aspirations. The portal shows employees:

• What roles they could transition into
• Which skills they already have that are transferable
• Which developmental pathways and training opportunities they can pursue

This visibility is designed to help individuals plan their careers proactively as AI changes the role profiles across the bank.

2. AI and Broader Skill Training

While AI-focused learning is a core part of the program — with over 30,000 staff already trained — the initiative also emphasises foundational human skills such as:

• Critical thinking
• Judgement and decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Empathy and collaboration

CBA executives stress that these non-technical competencies remain crucial as automation transforms workflows.

3. Career Transition Support

The Future Workforce Program also incorporates enhanced career transition support for employees whose roles evolve or are impacted by ongoing change. This includes experiential placements, coaching and access to internal job opportunities that match their newly developed skills.

Why This Matters

1. Preparing for AI-Driven Change

CBA’s investment comes at a time when organisations across sectors are grappling with how AI will reshape jobs, productivity and skills demand. By investing in workforce readiness now, the bank aims to build resilience and agility as technology transforms financial services work.

2. Balancing Automation with Human Skills

Committed to bridging the gap between emerging technologies and human capabilities, CBA highlights that automation should complement — not replace — uniquely human skills. This approach reflects industry-wide trends where firms are investing in a combination of technical and core human competencies.

3. Responding to Workforce Concerns

The announcement comes alongside news that the bank will cut about 300 roles as part of broader organisational adjustments — a move criticised by the Finance Sector Union, which argues workforce transition support should be made binding and stronger protections offered for displaced employees.

Market and Strategic Context

Banks and financial institutions worldwide are increasingly integrating AI into operations — from fraud detection automation to digital advisory tools — prompting workforce transformation strategies. CBA has been among the more progressive in this space, embedding thousands of machine-learning models and investing heavily in technology as part of its strategic priorities.

Investing in its people’s skills now positions the bank not only to leverage AI for operational efficiency but also to nurture internal talent capable of driving future innovation.

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