Programmed Salary Guide 2026-27

Key insights

What is shaping the employment market.

The guide brings together current salary and workforce signals to help employers plan with more confidence in a changing market.

4.0% headline inflation, down from 4.6% in March 2026.

1.3% GDP growth forecast over 2026-27 (RBA baseline).

4.5% unemployment in July, up from 4.4% in June.

42% recruitment difficulty, down 8 points over the year.

51% of employers now recruiting more in regional areas than capitals.

43% of software and data roles now cite AI skills in job postings.

Workforce planning

Prepare for hiring conversations with better market context.

The economy is rebalancing rather than retrenching, with easing inflation, structural hiring pipelines in defence, resources and infrastructure, and rising demand for AI-adjacent skills all shaping pay and retention decisions.

Inside the guide, you will find:

Salary benchmarks across industries and regions.
Market context on inflation, GDP growth and recruitment difficulty.
Insight into AI, workforce change and in-demand skills.
Practical data to support recruitment and pay decisions.

Plan workforce decisions with clearer salary data.

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What is shaping the employment market.

Prepare for hiring conversations with better market context.

Get the data before your next workforce decision.