11.7 million Aussies will head to the polls with work and wages top of mind

• 60% of Aussies are struggling to make ends meet with their current paycheck
• A household income of over $160,000 now deemed necessary to have a comfortable standard of living
• 76% believe wages have not kept up with cost of living
• Financial optimism higher in South Australia
• Victorian and NSW workers are most insecure about employment

As Australia approaches the federal election, three in five (60%)  workers say their current paycheck isn't enough to make ends meet—a figure that rises to over 70% of younger voters (age 18-24).

As a response to this, three in five working Aussies want a government that's committed to bringing wages in line with the cost of living, with three quarters (76%) believing salaries have not kept pace with rising prices. More generally, over 11 million want the elected party to bring down costs across the board. 

What salary is considered 'comfortable' in today's economy?

On average, workers believe an annual pre-tax household income of $164,403 is now required to meet basic needs in the current climate, with 29% estimating they'd need more than $200,000 to feel comfortable. For singles, $126,278 is the sum deemed necessary to meet needs, significantly shy of Australia's $78,200 median annual salary (ABS data, 2024).

Finances and job security by region 

Workers in South Australia are most optimistic about their financial future, with three in five (59%) believing their financial situation is improving—making them significantly more confident than Victorians (44%) and Queenslanders (42%). South Australians are also the most hopeful about future job prospects compared to those in other regions (86% in South Australia, 70% in Victoria and 71% in Queensland). Meanwhile, job insecurity is highest in Victoria, where 51% feel uncertain about their employment, compared to 47% in New South Wales, 41% in Queensland, 37% in West Australia, and 32% in South Australia.

Apart from money, how else can the government support?

Eighty one percent of employees, or the equivalent of 9.8 million people, believe the government should prioritise reducing the cost of public transport to help those who travel into work, while 74% want more affordable childcare to help employed parents.  

The majority (63%) of workers say HECS debt is a major deterrent to pursuing higher education, underscoring the current financial barriers that exist when it comes to upskilling and the ability to increase earning potential.  

 In light of rising healthcare costs, 79% of workers would be hugely incentivised to work for an employer who offers free healthcare as a benefit. Of all the generations, it's the youngsters—Gen Z—who see this as most attractive at 87%. Boomers on the other hand are much less likely to view free healthcare as a benefit (67%). 

Flexibility remains a top priority

The survey also highlights the ongoing need for workplace flexibility, with 65% of workers saying they would not accept a role that has no flexible work arrangements. Gen Z are particularly adamant about securing flexible work, with three in four (76%) saying they would not take a job without flexibility, compared to 67% of Millennials, 58% of Gen X, and 43% of Baby Boomers. 

Taking it a step further, nearly two in five (38%) workers would consider quitting their job if forced to return to the office full-time.

 Callam Pickering, APAC Economist at Indeed said: 

"Indeed's research shows that wages and cost of living are of key concern for Australians as they head to the polls." 

"The cost of living crisis has changed what workers expect from employers and policymakers.  Higher wages are important, but so are policies that ease everyday expenses like transport and childcare."

"Wages alone won't fix financial stress. Workers want meaningful action to reduce cost pressures - whether that's making education more affordable or ensuring access to workplace flexibility."   

"Regardless of the outcome of the election, these issues will remain at the forefront of the national conversation long after we've been to the polls."

ENDS

About the study  

This study was commissioned by global job site Indeed and conducted by YouGov online between 28 February - 3 March 2025.  It includes a nationally representative sample of 1,041 currently employed Australian workers. The data was weighted by age, gender and region to be nationally representative of the population of Australian workers aged 18-64.  

About Indeed    

More people find jobs on Indeed than anywhere else. Indeed is the #1 job site in the world (Comscore, Total Visits, March 2024). With over 580 million job seeker Profiles, people in more than 60 countries across 28 languages come to Indeed to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. Over 3.5 million employers use Indeed to find and hire new employees. Indeed is a subsidiary of Recruit Holdings, a global leader in HR technology and business solutions that is simplifying hiring and transforming the world of work.

 For more information, visit  indeed.com