The Evolving Working Life
The Evolving Working Life
Here's how Aussies are feeling about work and careers in a world where we’re working longer than ever.
With the average life expectancy and retirement age continuing to climb, SEEK has released its Evolving Working Life Report, providing insights into how Australian workers feel about their working life and careers in 2025 and beyond.
Key findings:
52% of Australian workers wish they had chosen a different career, with ‘career regret’ spiking amongst Millennial and Gen X workers.
The biggest barrier for those who regret their career choice is the fear that it’s ‘too late’ to make a change.
More than a third of Australian workers (38%) believe they will realistically work into their 70s and beyond.
44% are comfortable making a career change, but only 7% are actively looking at ways to change careers.
When thinking about the future of work, more than half of Australians (53%) feel hopeful, 47% feel optimistic and 1 in 3 (37%) feel confident.
What this means for hirers:
1. Extended career spans create new talent pools
With 38% of Australians expecting to work beyond age 70, hirers need to rethink age-inclusive recruitment strategies. This extended working life means accessing experienced talent who might have previously been overlooked, while also planning for longer employee lifecycles and career development pathways. 2. High career mobility indicates transferable skills
Half of Australians have worked across three or more different industries, demonstrating significant career diversity and adaptability. Hirers should focus more on transferable skills and potential rather than strict industry experience, opening up broader candidate pools for hard-to-fill roles.
3. Career Regret Presents Opportunity for Attraction
With 52% of Australians regretting their career choices (primarily due to financial reasons and changed interests), there's a substantial pool of professionals potentially open to new opportunities. Hirers can leverage this by positioning roles as pathways to more fulfilling careers and better financial outcomes.
4. Low active career change despite openness
While many Australians are open to career changes, only 7% are actively seeking new opportunities. This means hirers need to be more proactive in outreach and employer branding, as potential candidates may not be actively job searching but could be interested in the right opportunity.
5. Financial security drives career decisions Financial considerations are the primary driver for both career regret (47% cite insufficient earnings) and delayed retirement (60% feel they have no choice but to work longer). This insight helps hirers understand what motivates candidates and how to position compensation packages effectively.
Source: Independent research conducted by Nature of behalf of SEEK between October 2024 and February 2025. Over 5000 responses collected from Australians and Kiwis currently in the workforce (either employed or looking for work), aged 18 to 64.