This year has seen a "big spike" in the proportion of employees intending to change jobs, and new levers are emerging as key retention drivers, an employee experience specialist says.
Fewer jobs are being advertised for HR generalists and consultants, but for workplace relations practitioners, a clear trajectory of sustained demand lies ahead, specialist recruiters say.
Modern award wage rates will rise by 4.75% from 1 July, and the national minimum wage will be increased to $1,004.90 per week ($26.44 per hour), the Fair Work Commission has ruled today.
Two "seismic" events shaped the HR jobs market over the past 10 years, and the next decade is set to "test and reward great HR professionals even more", according to specialist recruiters.
Senior people and culture professionals from organisations including Atlassian, Newmont, The Human Collaborative and more have been on the move during the first quarter of 2026, alongside many others in HR-related roles.
HR professionals are again being urged to reconsider their definition of remuneration, to bridge the growing disconnect between employee and employer expectations.
The HR jobs market dipped at the end of 2025, but according to specialist recruiters, a rise in the proportion of permanent positions advertised signals "strategic maturity" in how employers approach hiring for this function.
All employers should consider putting in place a workplace s-xual harassment prevention plan, even though such plans are only expressly prescribed in one jurisdiction, according to a risk management expert.
Recent events have shone a spotlight on whistleblowing, placing employers firmly on notice that their response to a protected disclosure could be subject to intense scrutiny. Watch this webcast to understand the role HR plays in this challenging space.
