Gartner HR Survey Finds 39% of Australian Job Seekers Are Struggling to Find a New Job

As job vacancies in Australia continue to decline, 39% of Australian candidates reported finding it difficult to find a new job, according to a new survey from Gartner, Inc. Only 25% said there were many jobs available that matched their skill set, which is lower than the global average of 35%.

Speaking at the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference in Sydney today, Dion Love, Vice President, Advisory in the Gartner HR practice, said, “Job vacancies in Australia have continued a downward trend over the past year, making the hunt for a new job extremely tough, especially considering the added pressure on Australians from the current cost-of-living crisis and record high interest rates.”

The 2Q/3Q24 Gartner survey of nearly 3,500 candidates (including 194 from Australia) revealed only 27% of Australian candidates received multiple job offers during their last job search. For candidates who accepted a new position, only one-third said they were still open to other offers and 21% believed they could find a better job if they continued looking. 

“The commitment of Australian job seekers to the offers they received increased slightly this past year, with less backing out of a job after accepting,” said Love. “In such a tight market, candidates are losing faith in their ability to find a new job. They no longer have the luxury of being selective.”

What Australian Candidates Want
The Gartner survey revealed key insights into what Australian candidates value most when considering job offers. Work-life balance emerged as the top factor influencing their decisions (62%), followed by greater opportunities to learn new skills (53%) and the appeal of a new manager (52%). Australian candidates were less likely than global peers to prioritize flexibility in when they work (39% vs 52%) and alignment with values (37% vs 46%).

“Work-life balance continues to be an important factor for job seekers in Australia when deciding to accept a job offer, particularly as organizations increasingly mandate a return to office,” said Love. “They will prioritize that over other employee value proposition (EVP) attributes like opportunities for flexibility in when they work, and the organization’s alignment with their values.”

Mismatch in Expectations Leads to Declined Offers
Despite finding it hard to secure a new job, the Gartner survey revealed 41% of Australian candidates still declined an offer that did not match their expectations, lower than the global average of 52%. At least one mismatch in EVP preferences led 67% of Australian candidates to exit the hiring process. This includes compensation and benefits, but also factors such as flexibility in working hours, career pathing, skills development, team diversity and management style.

“These findings underscore how important it is for organizations to align their EVP with candidates' expectations and preferences if they are to compete effectively for top talent, regardless of market conditions,” said Love. “By focusing on what candidates want and implementing strategies around them, HR leaders can better attract, engage and retain top talent in the Australian market.”

About the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference
The Gartner ReimagineHR Conference is the premier event for CHROs and HR leaders to learn from the latest research and Gartner experts covering talent acquisition, diversity, equity and inclusion, learning and development, total rewards, talent analytics, and HR technology. Gartner ReimagineHR is taking place in Sydney, December 4-5. Follow news and updates from this event on X using #GartnerHR.