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Business support market update Australia 2026
Australia, Q1 2026
Key workplace trends shaping hiring
The Business Support market in Australia remains active, but increasingly complex. Hiring demand is steady, yet high workforce mobility, evolving workplace trends, and shifting candidate expectations are changing how organisations attract and retain talent.
From salary pressures to flexibility and skills shortages, employers are operating in a market where small missteps can mean losing top talent.
In this guide, we break down what is shaping the Business Support market in 2026 and what hiring leaders need to do to stay competitive.
Download the guide here
What’s inside the guide
This e-guide provides a clear view of the current business support landscape in Australia, combining market data with practical hiring insights.
You’ll discover:
- Where hiring demand sits across business support roles
- How salary expectations are impacting attraction and retention
- Why candidate mobility remains high in 2026
- The role of flexibility in securing top talent
- Where skills shortages are most acute
- How AI is reshaping business support roles and expectations
If you are hiring in this space, these insights will help you refine your approach and make more informed decisions.
The research
We surveyed over 2,000 business support professionals across Australia and uncovered the key trends shaping the workforce and hiring in 2026. 77% of employers plan pay rises this year, and 67% of employees expect one, highlighting a growing perception gap around remuneration. 87% of businesses report skills shortages, underlining ongoing hiring challenges across the sector. The workforce is also heavily skewed, with 74% women and 26% men, making business support one of Australia’s most gender-skewed industries. These insights reflect the pressures and opportunities shaping hiring, retention, and workforce planning in 2026.
Sarah Ford, Senior Manager, Business Support
Working with business support professionals across Australia every day, I see firsthand how quickly expectations are shifting. This eguide brings together the latest insights on pay, flexibility, skills shortages and AI, giving employers a clear view of what really matters to candidates. Staying up to date with this information is critical if you want to attract and retain the right people in such a competitive market.
Why this matters for hiring in 2026
The business support market is no longer defined purely by supply and demand. It is shaped by expectations.
Professionals are placing greater emphasis on:
- Flexibility and work-life balance
- Fair and transparent remuneration
- Career development and progression
At the same time, employers are becoming more focused on:
- Skills and capability over tenure alone
- Cultural alignment and long-term fit
- Retention as a strategic priority
This shift means hiring success is increasingly determined by how well organisations align with what candidates value.
Download the business support market update
Get the full insight into Australia’s business support market and the workplace trends shaping hiring in 2026.
Download the e-guide to benchmark your approach and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
Speak to our team
If you would like to discuss what these trends mean for your organisation, our specialist consultants can help. Contact our team for a confidential conversation about your hiring strategy and workforce planning for 2026.
Adelaide
Denise Antoniou - denise.antoniou@robertwalters.com.au
Brisbane
Madeline Wyld - madeline.wyld@robertwalters.com.au
Melbourne
Chloe O'Brien - Chloe.Obrien@robertwalters.com.au
Perth
Natalie Kiely - Natalie.Kiely@robertwalters.com.au
Sydney
Sarah Ford - sarah.ford@robertwalters.com.au
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FAQs
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Who is this e-guide for?
This guide is designed for hiring managers, HR leaders and business leaders responsible for recruiting or managing Business Support professionals in Australia. -
Why is the business support market so competitive right now?
High candidate mobility, skills shortages and evolving workplace expectations are creating a more competitive hiring environment, even where demand is moderate. -
What are the biggest workplace trends impacting business support roles?
Key workplace trends include flexibility becoming a baseline expectation, the growing importance of soft skills, and the increasing influence of AI on role design. -
How can employers improve retention in business support teams?
Retention strategies should focus on competitive remuneration, flexible working arrangements, clear career pathways and ongoing development opportunities.
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