Latest Employment and Market Insights – April 2025

Modest increase in advertised salaries

According to SEEK’s salary index, advertised salary growth increased by 0.3% month-on-month (m/m), maintaining the steady growth pattern observed over recent months.

Over the past year, annual advertised salary growth has edged up to 3.7%, although it has slowed by 0.6 percentage points compared to March 2023

“Advertised salary growth reached 3.7% year-ended in March, with monthly growth holding steady at around 0.3% since December” Commented SEEK Senior Economist, Dr Blair Chapman.

“If this pace continues, annual advertised salary growth is projected to ease further to 3.4% by June. However, growing economic uncertainty and a softer start to the year in the labour market could accelerate this slowdown.

Interestingly, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ broader Wage Price Index recorded a 3.2% annual growth in December. As advertised salary growth remains higher, we may see a slight reacceleration of broader wage growth over the coming quarters.”

Workforce Outlook

The Victorian government’s Employment Projections dashboard suggests the workforce is set to grow over the next three years:

• 392,000 new workers expected to enter the Victorian labour market:
  • 168,000 in brand-new jobs (growth roles)
  • 224,000 replacing retiring or exiting workers

These new entrants will add to Victoria’s existing 3.7 million-strong workforce, shaping the future across sectors.

This roadmap is designed to align skills supply with demand, ensuring Victoria remains competitive, adaptable, and well-prepared for future challenges — particularly in priority areas like housing, construction, clean energy, digital capabilities, and essential services.

Trust, Attitudes and Use of Artificial Intelligence: A Global Study 2025:

According to KPMG, the rapid rise in AI adoption is outpacing many organisations’ understandings of its risks, with limited AI literacy and insufficient governance creating an increasingly complex operating environment. As a result, AI is often implemented without the necessary frameworks to support transparency, accountability, and ethical use.

To help address this, KPMG has partnered with the University of Melbourne to deliver the world’s most comprehensive study on public trust in AI.

This year’s survey captured insights from over 48,000 individuals across 47 countries, offering a global perspective on how people view, use, and engage with AI technology.