Sociology Careers in AI Policy

We look at emerging careers for applied sociologists seeking to address ethical use of AI, as well as policy inequalities flowing from the proliferation of AI.

Sociology of AI work

Elsewhere, I have covered how AI cannot meaningfully replace work that requires human interaction, such as education and healthcare. In other fields, AI may adapt the way people do their work, however, sociological research suggests that AI is unlikely to take over many jobs.

Instead, sociological research suggests that AI is likely to create new jobs, however, this may increase inequality. This includes negative outcomes on the copyright of artists, security issues, degrading the environment, deepening inequality for racialised minorities and rural and remote communities, and impinging on the land and water rights of First Peoples.

Governments already use AI regularly in their work, yet the community does not trust the use of AI to deliver public services. Catastrophic examples where AI has harmed vulnerable people has eroded public trust in both AI and in governance.

As such, there are a myriad of ethical questions surrounding the ongoing evolution, use, and regulation of AI.

To be transparent, I do not support generative AI, and I have many misgivings about other forms of AI, especially in public service.

Nevertheless, applied sociologists might use sociological theories, methods, and ethics expertise to shape better outcomes in AI policies. Below are jobs for sociologists in ethical policy and research, and where to find these roles.

Roles for sociologists

A recent news article has identified several new roles in AI, identifying two career paths for sociologists, in ethics and behavioural research:

‘AI ethics specialist: AI systems make decisions that can affect real lives — from who gets hired to who receives a loan. That’s why companies and governments need experts who can guide them on what’s fair, what’s biased, and what crosses a line. Ethics specialists work closely with developers, legal teams, and product leaders to make sure AI is built and used responsibly.

‘AI behavioural researcher: AI tools influence human behaviour — from how long we scroll to what we buy. Behavioural researchers look at how people respond to AI and what changes when technology gets smarter. Their insights help companies design better products and understand the social effects of automation and machine learning.’

If these roles interest you, jobs already exist in government, not-for-profits, and consultancy. At the time of writing, there are currently over 100 roles in Australia on the sociology of AI. That is, jobs advertising sociology in the job ad. ¹

First Peoples opportunities

There are 46 Aboriginal-identified positions in AI in Australia, mostly for technology companies, including Google. However, these are focused on programming, data systems management, and software engineering, rather than sociological skills.

I highlight this gap for First Peoples sociologists protected roles, as First Peoples scholars have demonstrated the need for AI companies to create ‘Indigenous-led opportunities’ and to protect First Peoples’ knowledge and culture. My previous research has outlined the need for governments and the private sector to prioritise First Peoples’ self-determination (‘transferring decision-making power, authority, control and resources to First Peoples,’ including land and water rights), and Indigenous data sovereignty in AI social policy.

No advertised positions currently have this focus, however, First Peoples sociologists can explore these career pathways via the Treaty Authority, the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, and other Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.

Student opportunities

If you are an undergraduate student wondering how to build research experience in the sociology of AI, contact relevant scholars, to explore your own topic. For example:

• Professor Bronwyn Carlson, sociologist, Macquarie University, Australia.
• Professor Paul Henman, sociologist, University of Queensland, Australia
• Humanising Machine Intelligence, ANU, Australia. Sociology PhD example
• Work Futures Hallmark Research Initiative, University of Melbourne, Australia
• Sociology of AI Research Group, University of Cambridge, England
• Sociology of Artificial Intelligence, special edition of Socius

Alternatively, see these PhD examples (current or recently available at time of writing)

• Critically Evaluating the Design Cultures of Artificial Intelligence in Australia, UNSW, Australia
• Scars of War: Quantifying the Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact of Conflict through AI and Causal Inference, University of Birmingham, England
• Cyber Violence Against Women and Girls: Leveraging AI to Evaluate Impact by Social Media Platforms, University of Birmingham, England
• PhD Research Fellow in Digital Sociology/Sociology of Artificial Intelligence, University of Agder, Norway.

Graduate opportunities

Recent graduates might explore the following fields to build work experience:

• Internships, research assistant roles, and paid graduate programs within local, state, or federal government are good avenues to get your foot-in-the-door. (See our previous tips on How to Look for Work in Applied Sociology)
• Volunteering with not-for-profits. (See our previous guide on volunteering, and an example of how to represent this on your CV)

Examples of sociology roles

Below are some example AI roles that I’ve found in Australia. This list is not intended as a ‘live’ list of jobs to apply for, rather, this is a sample which you might use to search for similar roles in your country. These roles are focused on analysis and policy skills.

Table 1: Example jobs in AI for sociology graduates

JOB TITLES	SOCIOLOGY SKILLS 2	JOB LEVEL 3	COMPANIES HIRING
2026 Graduate Development Program	Minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree or completed postgraduate degree: ‘…Help shape policies, services, and initiatives that impact your community… ‘What we’re looking for… community-focused thinkers’	Early-Career	Tasmanian State Service
Data Scientist	Quantitative research: ‘Solid understanding of data governance, AI ethics, privacy, and compliance issues’	Mid-Career	Teachers Health
Research Fellows – Substance Use and Mental Health	Quantitative research: ‘Work with large-scale longitudinal survey and administration data… Current projects in machine learning and artificial intelligence’	Senior	University of Queensland
Public Policy Specialist	Policy analysis: ‘Support engagements on economic policy priorities, including AI-related policy risk management’	Senior	Talenza
Manager Artificial Intelligence Advisory	Policy development: Requires experience in digital research and data use. ‘Provide advice and support to agencies about the use and implementation of Artificial Intelligence’	Senior	Northern Territory Government
Project Lead – Workforce Research	Project management: ‘Lead stakeholder consultation and labour market analysis to ensure vocational education and training is aligned to industry needs… ‘Demonstrated use of Gen AI tools (e.g. Co-pilot) for business functions’	Senior	Future Skills Organisation
Academic Coordinator	Administrative leadership: ‘Familiarity or willingness to develop skills in Artificial Intelligence, relevant technology in either an administration or subject specific simulation tools used in an academic setting’	Senior	Ozford Institute of Higher Education
Director, Artificial Intelligence	Strategic planning: ‘A proven track record of delivering complex digital projects in high-pressure environments. Expertise in AI technologies and their practical application in government or large organisations’	Executive	Department of Treasury and Finance, Government of South Australia
Head of Data and AI Governance	Policy implementation: ‘Extensive experience in a Senior Data Governance role, with demonstrated expertise in managing initiatives related to data quality, AI ethics, and compliance with global data protection regulations’	Executive	Australia Post

Resources

See our Careers in Applied Sociology series, for advice on how to search for jobs, how to write your CV and resume, and how to apply for a job.

Notes

1. These job roles appear in searches with the aforementioned keywords. The term ‘sociology’ may appear either in the text of the ad, or in the backend, where recruiters can specify keywords for candidates
2. Quotes in the ‘Sociology Skills’ column come directly from the job ad. By the time of publication, these roles may be closed.
3. Definitions of ‘Job Level’ as per stipulations in the job ad (e.g. required years of experience): Student – graduate or PhD opportunities, Early-Career – recent graduate with one to five years’ industry experience, Mid-Career – degree plus five to ten years’ industry experience, Senior – degree plus five to ten years’ experience managing projects, teams, stakeholders, programs, or services, Executive – degree plus ten to 15 years senior leadership of large business units, departments, or organisations (e.g. managing budgets, strategic policy, and governance).