Adelaide job market update: Q1 2025 insights

Published date: March 31, 2025

Welcome to our Adelaide Job Market Update for Q1 2025. In this article, you'll find insights from across the key recruitment specialties covered by our Adelaide office. Our experienced recruitment consultants provide expert commentary based on their direct, daily engagement with the local job market, offering valuable perspectives on current trends, emerging opportunities, and challenges.

A notable theme across Australia is the ongoing emphasis on digital transformation, workforce upskilling, and strategic retention efforts, as businesses respond proactively to address critical workforce shortages.

For additional insights from across Australia, explore the latest market updates from our other offices by visiting our news page.

What’s in this article?

Click on any of the links below to jump to the insights that are most relevant to you. Our Adelaide job market update includes:

Call Centre & Operations

Finance recruitment

HR recruitment

Technology & Engineering recruitment

Transformation, Governance & Risk recruitment

Adelaide market update summary

Further insights from across Australia

Call Centre & Operations recruitment trends

The demand for skilled HR professionals in Call Centre and Operations recruitment has been steadily growing, with 2024 being particularly active. In South Australia, the government sector remains a key area of growth. Notably, SA Water has digitalised its Assessment Centre process, a change that could influence other organisations looking to modernise their hiring methods.

Salaries for contact centre operators are also rising as companies compete to attract top talent for contract roles. This trend reflects the increasing importance of skilled operators and the need for businesses to offer competitive pay in a tight job market.

Call Centre & Operations recruitment – looking forward

Demand for customer service agents in hardship and collections remains strong. However, parts of this process will continue to be digitalised with AI, particularly in lower-level debt recoveries. Contact centre recruitment is growing across South Australian government agencies, a sector we are actively driving while working to build a strong contract book.

Recruitment in sales and customer service is expected to remain steady. Meanwhile, hiring in mortgage operations is currently low but could increase quickly if interest rates continue to decline.

Finance recruitment trends

The Accounting and Finance job market in South Australia remains strong, with a steady demand for professionals across various sectors. As of February 2025, there are over 300 accounting positions available in the Adelaide area, highlighting the continued need for skilled talent in this field.

However, senior finance roles remain tightly held, with limited movement at the top levels. This suggests a competitive landscape for those seeking leadership positions, while mid-level and entry-level opportunities remain more accessible. The overall demand reflects a stable and growing financial sector, offering diverse career prospects for accounting and finance professionals.

Finance recruitment – looking forward

Finance transformation projects are increasingly focused on automating processes such as month-end reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll. As businesses shift away from relying solely on historical accounting data, the demand for real-time financial insights is growing. This trend is expected to drive an increase in roles such as Finance Business Partners and Finance Analysts.

Another emerging area is ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, which remains a challenge for many businesses as they navigate evolving compliance requirements. In response, professional services firms are preparing for this demand by establishing specialised teams. Additionally, the impact of AI on finance transformation will lead to greater data availability with less human input, potentially reducing headcount in transactional finance roles over the long term.

HR recruitment trends

As the Australian job market evolves, HR professionals play a key role in helping businesses adapt to changing workforce expectations, regulatory updates, and advancements in technology. Companies are focusing on hybrid work models, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic talent acquisition to improve efficiency and compliance.

Demand for HR skills varies across specialisations. Talent Acquisition roles remain at a low point overall, but they are highly sought after in industries facing talent shortages, such as healthcare, construction, and renewable energy. Skilled recruiters are essential in these sectors, where competition for top talent is strong. In larger organisations, there is growing demand for employee relations specialists to manage hybrid workforces and address complex workplace needs. Compliance professionals are also in high demand as businesses respond to evolving regulatory requirements.

Learning and Development is another area of growth, with companies prioritising upskilling and reskilling initiatives to remain competitive. This has led to an increase in L&D roles, particularly in finance, retail, and healthcare, where businesses are investing in workforce capability.

Industry-specific HR trends

Healthcare & Aged Care: A rapidly growing sector requiring HR professionals skilled in workforce planning and employee engagement.

Technology & Start-Ups: Companies are expanding HR teams to create inclusive and adaptable workplaces.

Financial Services: Increased focus on compliance, risk management, and employee relations due to evolving regulations.

Public Sector: Strong demand for HR professionals in workforce planning and policy development, particularly in government departments managing community services.

HR recruitment – looking forward

Looking ahead, the HR landscape is shifting as businesses adapt their hiring strategies and workplace practices. After a period of caution, there has been a slight but notable increase in permanent HR roles as organisations refocus on long-term talent management and strategic stability. However, contract hiring remains unpredictable, particularly in talent acquisition and employee relations. Demand for contract positions is expected to rise again, especially in government, banking, and financial services, where businesses rely on short-term hires to support project-based work or navigate ongoing hiring freezes.

The role of HR in shaping the future workplace continues to evolve, particularly as flexible work arrangements become more sophisticated. Remote and hybrid work models are rapidly changing, and HR teams are at the forefront of managing these transitions to ensure seamless implementation. At the same time, companies are accelerating the adoption of advanced HR technologies, including AI-driven recruitment tools, HR analytics, and employee engagement platforms. These innovations are expected to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and improve the employee experience, with Workday remaining the preferred HR system across most sectors.

Technology & Engineering recruitment trends

In the Technology sector, organisations have been heavily investing in digital transformation projects and are moving away from legacy systems to the latest, up-to-date technologies.

There is a high demand for candidates with specialised skills in areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. Employers are looking for professionals who can help them leverage new technologies and maintain competitive advantage.

While technical skills are crucial, there is also a growing emphasis on soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Employers value candidates who can adapt to changing environments and collaborate effectively.

The Engineering workforce is experiencing a significant boost with three-quarters of qualified engineers coming from overseas. Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Production and Mining Engineers have been listed as the most in-demand professionals for skilled migration. These roles are also listed amongst the key professions currently facing national skill shortages and form part of Australian Government’s Occupation Shortage List, highlighting the ongoing national skills gap.

Competition for engineering roles remains intense, as demand continues to be strong across industries such as construction and infrastructure.

Technology & Engineering recruitment – looking forward

The adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning is expected to grow, with businesses across various industries increasingly leveraging AI for data analysis, customer service, and operational efficiency. At the same time, as cyber threats become more sophisticated, demand for cybersecurity solutions and professionals is set to rise, potentially driving growth in Adelaide’s cybersecurity sector.

Adelaide may also continue developing smart city initiatives, using IoT and data analytics to enhance urban infrastructure, transportation, and public services. In healthcare, the adoption of digital health technologies—such as telemedicine, health monitoring apps, and AI-driven diagnostics—is likely to expand, improving patient care and efficiency. Additionally, Adelaide’s strong ties to universities and research institutions could spur innovation in technology education and research, leading to new developments and commercial opportunities.

The demand for engineers will largely depend on government and private sector investment in local manufacturing, infrastructure, and the net-zero transition/ decarbonisation mandates. As Australia moves towards decarbonisation, the scale of work required to achieve clean energy goals by 2050—alongside population-driven infrastructure growth and new investment under the Future Made in Australia agenda—is expected to sustain strong demand for engineering talent in the long term.

From 2025 onwards, the South Australian Government’s investment of over half a billion dollars into green hydrogen is set to create thousands of jobs. This funding will support renewable energy projects, the development of a hydrogen export industry, and the establishment of a production and storage facility near Whyalla, further driving demand for engineers in the sector.

Transformation, Governance & Risk recruitment trends

The job market for Transformation, Risk and Governance roles is experiencing notable growth, particularly for projects on digital transformation, business strategy, and organisational change. As of February 2025, this sector continues to expand, driven by major investments in technology and defence. Companies are increasingly prioritising digital transformation initiatives, creating strong demand for professionals with specialised expertise in this area.

Key growth segments include urban development, housing, infrastructure, and government. Employers are particularly seeking candidates with skills in Salesforce, SAP, and Microsoft Dynamics to lead digital transformation projects. As organisations invest in modernising their systems, professionals with these technical capabilities will play a crucial role in driving strategic change.

Transformation, Governance & Risk recruitment – looking forward

The demand for talent remains high, particularly for professionals with expertise in digitalisation, regulatory compliance, and project management. Opportunities are diverse, with competitive salaries attracting skilled candidates.

Several major companies are driving recruitment efforts. Saab Australia is actively hiring, aiming to fill 100 skilled positions in 100 days to support new projects, including a $90 million combat systems centre. BAE Systems Australia is relocating its headquarters to Adelaide's Lot Fourteen, bringing around 500 jobs and planning to recruit an additional 800 employees this year for defence projects. Meanwhile, NextDC has opened a $100 million data centre in Adelaide, strengthening the city's digital infrastructure and creating new opportunities in IT and related fields.

Information Technology hot jobs are Project Managers, Business Analysts, Testers, Architects, Service Des & Technical Support.

Adelaide market update summary

Adelaide’s job market remains strong, with government, finance, technology, and transformation projects driving demand for skilled professionals. Salaries are rising in competitive sectors, while AI and digital transformation continue to reshape hiring trends. Engineering and green energy investments are fueling long-term job creation, and businesses are prioritising workforce strategy, compliance, and innovation. Whether you're hiring or exploring your next opportunity, our expert recruiters in Adelaide are here to help – reach out now.

Further insights from across Australia

Our nationwide team of recruitment specialists have also provided in-depth analysis on key industries across Australia's major cities. Explore the latest trends and insights by selecting a city or industry update below.