Agency Blog

Job insecurity and polarised demand amount to a disorienting, sluggish job market. That’s what this year’s research found, published in the 2025/2026 annual Keegan Adams Financial Services Talent and Employment Report. Fear is driving an asymmetric job market, but forces are reshaping historic candidate movements, precipitating migration to smaller firms. Meanwhile, demand for very specific skills is high. Tenures have lengthened driven by job security fears: Job security is now workers number one concern. Reversing the trend of previous years, workers expect to stay an average 42% longer in their current role than in 2023. More than double those of 2024 expect to stay 5yrs or longer Finding a job is tough: over two thirds say it’s harder than a year ago Salaries remain in total stagnation: the average increase is just 0.07% above inflation But pockets of the market are hungry for quality talent and offer great opportunity Businesses are optimistic: only 14% think the market will worsen, and organic growth is their top 5-yr focus AI is not driving job losses yet: Only 17% of businesses say headcount reduction is a driver of AI adoption. The labour market is seen as impossible on both sides, but there is plenty of good news. The data reveals a polarised market, not a closed one, with heightened extremes of supply and demand across sectors and skillsets. Specific roles remain in strong demand and specialist skills command a premium. And a structural shift sees talent migrating from major institutions to smaller, high-growth employers. The report, which surveys both employers of tens of thousands of Australians and employees from across Financial, Corporate and Professional, and Tech and Transformation Services, found that last year’s redundancy waves at the major banks and financial institutions have reshaped the market. The resulting displacement has flooded the market…

From hiring challenges and talent shortages to salary trends across investment management and superannuation, Keegan Adams is at the forefront of conversations shaping the financial services, corporate services, and technology and transformation sectors. Drawing on insights from our latest 2026 State of the Workplace report, our team regularly contributes expert commentary and market intelligence to leading industry publications. The articles below highlight some of the key trends influencing employers and professionals across the industry. To learn more about the findings behind these insights, you can request a copy of the full report below.     The ‘huge pressure’ driving super CEO movements Super Review A wave of CEO departures across Australia’s superannuation sector reflects the mounting pressure on fund leaders to deliver large-scale transformation under increasingly demanding conditions. Super Review turned to Keegan Adams Managing Director Claire Tate for insights into the shift. Claire explained how the role itself has changed dramatically — with leaders now required to navigate regulatory complexity, investment internalisation, mergers, and technology transformation simultaneously, regardless of fund size. At larger funds, leaders face public scrutiny and complex internal frameworks. At smaller funds, the same pressures apply but with far fewer resources. And with movement comes competition for a limited pool of experienced talent. “Anytime there’s movement, it’s poaching season,” Claire said — noting that suitable candidates for these roles are finite, given the breadth of experience required. Some senior executives are taking on roles for fixed periods to complete specific projects before moving on, further tightening an already constrained market. Read the full article >    Employers Report Hiring Challenges in a ‘Polarised’ Labour Market Human Resources Director Human Resources Director magazine covered insights from the Keegan Adam’s report, highlighting the growing complexity in Australia’s financial services recruitment market, with 91% of employers saying it is…

Last week, we were delighted to welcome clients, candidates and industry leaders to our annual Future of Work event, featuring renowned futurist and workforce expert Dr Ben Hamer. Attended by professionals from across HR, Talent Acquisition, People & Culture and business leadership eager to explore the trends shaping the future of work, the event offered thought-provoking discussion on the current market. Talks were practical and highly relevant to the challenges organisations are navigating today, including The changing expectations of today’s workforce The future of leadership and talent development Why more employees are opting out of management roles The impact of AI on jobs, skills and workforce planning The rise of “Adaptive Intelligence” and the growing importance of human skills How organisations can attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive market The event marked the release of the highly anticipated annual Keegan Adams industry research and data – its 2026 State of the Workplace report, available now. Actionable insights The evening provided key data and insights to guide leaders in today’s environment. 📊 68% of Australians report feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change 📊 58% of employees are increasingly opting out of management roles 📊 82% of employees say they like where they work, yet 43% remain open to new opportunities 📊 Gen Z is expected to represent approximately 25% of the workforce in the coming years, bringing new expectations around flexibility, career growth and workplace experience The overarching message was clear: organisations that embrace change, invest in leadership and create meaningful career opportunities will be best positioned to attract and retain talent in the years ahead. A sincere thank you to Dr Ben Hamer for sharing his expertise and to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversation. Want to learn more about the trends shaping the…