Progress should benefit everyone, not just the few. Yet in Australia, corporate giants Woolworths and Coles are rolling out automation under the guise of “efficiency,” while quietly cutting jobs, slashing wages, and squeezing struggling consumers for every last dollar.

Self-checkouts, digital pricing, and AI-driven inventory systems aren’t being introduced to make life easier for everyday Aussies—they’re being deployed to maximize corporate profits at the direct expense of workers and customers alike.

But let’s call it what it really is: a cash grab disguised as innovation.

The Retail Industry’s Shift to Automation

Once upon a time, you’d walk into your local Woolies or Coles and be greeted by a checkout worker. Fast forward to today, and self-service dominates—machines outnumber human cashiers, and store staff are forced to monitor, troubleshoot, and do twice the work with fewer resources.

Coles alone has removed over 200 checkout workers per store in recent years, shifting operations towards self-checkouts and AI-assisted fraud detection. Meanwhile, Woolworths has doubled down on “scan and go” technology, offloading more of the work onto paying customers while pocketing the savings.

But has this automation improved the customer experience? Absolutely not.

• More theft accusations: Facial recognition and AI surveillance have wrongly flagged countless shoppers.

• Longer wait times: Shoppers now do the jobs of paid employees—scanning, bagging, and troubleshooting machine errors for free.

• No price reductions: Despite massive labour cost savings, grocery prices continue to skyrocket, with fresh produce, meat, and pantry staples becoming luxuries for many Australian families.

If automation cut prices for customers or led to better jobs, it might be justifiable. But instead, Coles and Woolies are posting record profits while wages stagnate and cost-of-living pressures grow.

The Disappearing Jobs: Who Pays the Price?

Woolworths and Coles aren’t reinvesting in their workforce—they’re shrinking it.

• Front-line jobs are vanishing. Less need for cashiers, stock checkers, and customer service reps means thousands of lost jobs across Australia.

• Casualisation is on the rise. The roles that remain are often casual or part-time, offering fewer hours and no job security.

• “Efficiency” is a lie. The push for digital pricing tags, automated stock replenishment, and AI-assisted checkout systems is about corporate profit—not making life easier for customers or staff.

And let’s not forget: who suffers most?

Young Australians, students, older workers, and those in rural areas where employment options are already extremely limited.

This isn’t just bad business—it’s economic sabotage.

The Myth of “Savings” for Consumers

With all this automation, you’d expect lower grocery prices, right?

Wrong.

• Coles and Woolworths have increased their profit margins on essential items by as much as 40% in the past five years—even as their automation costs decline.

• The infamous “shrinkflation” tactic means customers pay the same or more for less product.

• Coles and Woolies rake in billions, while everyday Aussies are forced to choose between fuel, rent, and fresh food.

Where’s the public benefit in that?

Fighting Back: What Can Be Done?

Workers and consumers aren’t powerless. Across the world, unions, advocacy groups, and even governments are stepping in to stop automation from being used as a weapon.

Possible solutions include:

✅ Automation profit tax: Companies replacing workers with machines should pay a levy to support job retraining programs.

✅ Stronger labour laws: Limit the number of jobs that can be automated without worker compensation.

✅ Consumer pushback: Support businesses that prioritise human jobs over cost-cutting automation.

Because at the end of the day, progress should serve society—not just shareholders.

The Future of Retail: What’s Next?

Woolworths and Coles have a choice:

🔹 Use automation responsibly—to enhance jobs, support workers, and improve the shopping experience.

🔹 Or continue down the current path—eliminating jobs, inflating prices, and treating customers as unpaid employees.

But make no mistake: Australians are watching.

As small businesses, independent grocers, and community-focused retailers offer an alternative, Woolies and Coles will soon realise that cutting corners comes at a cost.

Will they listen before it’s too late?

Conclusion: Who Really Wins?

If “innovation” only benefits corporate bank accounts while workers lose jobs and shoppers pay more, it’s not innovation—it’s exploitation.

The push for automation doesn’t have to mean mass layoffs and rising costs—but if we let Australia’s supermarket duopoly set the rules, that’s exactly what will happen.

It’s time for government action, consumer awareness, and corporate accountability.

Because real progress should uplift everyone—not just those at the top.