Only 25% of Australians Confident about Job Stability, says ADP
Synopsis
New insights reveal declining workforce confidence, as most employees express concerns over job security amid economic pressures and organisational changes.
Only one in four Australian workers believe their jobs are safe from elimination, according to the first chapter of ADP Research's People at Work 2026 report.
The study, based on responses from more than 39,000 working adults across 36 markets, suggests that concerns about the future of work continue to weigh on employees despite Australia's relatively resilient labour market.
The findings reveal a noticeable generational divide in Australia. Just 18% of people aged 18 to 26 said they were confident that their jobs would remain secure, while workers aged 27 to 39 emerged as the most optimistic group, with 29% expressing confidence.
Australia performed slightly better than the global average of 22% and the Asia-Pacific average of 18%, but no market surveyed reported a majority of workers who believed their jobs were safe from elimination.
According to ADP Australia, New Zealand and Japan General Manager Kylie Baullo, many employees are now thinking beyond whether they have a job today to whether their role will continue to exist in the years ahead.
Confidence in Job Security Linked to Business Outcomes
The report found a strong relationship between job security and workplace performance. Employees who felt their jobs were secure were twice as likely to say they intended to stay with their employer, six times more likely to describe themselves as fully engaged and 3.3 times more likely to report high productivity.
Confidence of people also varied by occupation. In Australia, 35% of knowledge workers believed their jobs were secure, compared with 20% of skilled task workers and 19% of repetitive task workers.
Workers employed by medium-sized and large organisations also reported higher confidence than those working for smaller businesses.
Employers Encouraged to Prioritise Trust through Communication and Upskilling
The findings come as businesses continue to evaluate how artificial intelligence, automation and changing workforce demands are reshaping jobs. ADP said employers have an opportunity to reduce uncertainty by clearly communicating how roles are evolving and investing in continuous learning.
Baullo said organisations that equip employees with new skills and provide greater visibility into future career opportunities will be better positioned to retain talent and build resilient teams.
ADP Chief Economist Dr Nela Richardson added that job security has become a business issue, arguing that employees who feel confident about their future are more likely to remain committed to an organisation for a longer time and perform at their best.
Source: SecurityBrief Australia
At Inspirepreneurs Magazine, covering entrepreneurship, business failures, and the human stories behind the world's most ambitious founders. She writes at the intersection of strategy and storytelling.
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