HP Inc. has released a new report that reveals a stark decline in the relationship between Australian workers and their jobs, with only 14% of knowledge workers reporting a healthy relationship with work.
This figure is the second lowest among the 14 countries surveyed and represents a 13-point drop from 2024, according to HP’s Work Relationship Index (WRI), a comprehensive global study that examines how people around the world feel about their relationship with work.
Why it matters
Loyalty and fulfilment are eroding. Fewer workers feel proud of their company, would recommend it as a great place to work, or see themselves staying for two more years. The data points to meaningful declines in leadership and people-centricity, signalling that employees feel less cared for and less connected to purpose.
“The traditional employment model has fractured. Global disruption, economic pressures, and changing workplace expectations have created an environment that feels more demanding and less rewarding” said HP’s Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand Brad Pulford.
What the data shows
Workers in finance, professional services, manufacturing, and education all experienced double-digit drops in WRI scores. Even business leaders experienced a sharp 15-point decrease, reflecting the pressures of a challenging business environment. Purpose and recognition are weak spots: only 44% of knowledge workers say their work gives them a sense of purpose, and just 39% feel they receive adequate recognition for their contributions. These are fixable problems that will be critical as businesses seek to embrace a more fulfilling future of work.
Change and pressure are reshaping work
More than half of Australian workers experienced workplace changes in the past year; from cost-cutting and redundancies to shifts in hybrid arrangements. A majority (58%) also feel that employer demands and expectations have increased.
Technology and AI offer a bright spot:
Amidst these challenges, technology and AI are a source of optimism. The report reveals that 77% of Australians use AI at work, with 31% using it daily. This growth in AI adoption is now being driven by older generations, with boomers catching up to their younger counterparts. Employees who work for companies that invest in providing the right tools and AI are up to five times more likely to have a healthy relationship with work.
Employer Playbook: practical moves for 2025
With many drivers of fulfilment within an organisation’s control, leaders can act now to reset how work gets done. Pay and conditions are important conversations. But one bright spot in the survey was technology, which is helping to make workplaces better. But technology is most powerful when it’s thoughtfully deployed, and part of a broader package of consistent, human-centred changes
- Recognition that lands: Elevate frequent, specific recognition linked to values and outcomes.
- Equitable hybrid collaboration: Make meetings purposeful and inclusive; design in-office time around collaboration, not presenteeism.
- Protect focus, reduce friction: Cut tool sprawl and context-switching; streamline workflows so meaningful work time grows.
- Responsible AI that gives time back: Provide clear guardrails, training, and role-relevant use cases so AI augments work rather than overwhelms it.
- Manager capability as the multiplier: Equip managers to set clarity, balance workloads, and maintain regular, high-quality check-ins.
“This is a wake-up call for every employer in Australia. Despite the pressures around us, the drivers of fulfilment sit largely with employers; how we lead, how we recognise people, and how we put technology to work so it restores focus. That’s the future of work Australians deserve: equitable collaboration, time back for focus, and AI that helps and never overwhelms.”