NSW workers are among Australia’s least satisfied employees, with new state data from Hays
Media release posted Tuesday 09 June,2026
NSW workers are among Australia’s least satisfied employees, with new state data from Hays suggesting frustration around pay, workload and work-life balance is building despite relatively strong job security.
The Hays Salary Guide FY26/27, Australia and New Zealand’s largest and most comprehensive review of salaries and workforce trends, drew on insights from more than 7,000 hiring managers and professionals across ANZ. It found that while 65% of NSW professionals are confident in their job security, fewer than half (49%) are satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, and just 38% are satisfied or very satisfied with their salary, the lowest among all states. NSW professionals also reported the highest levels of overtime and the highest dissatisfaction with their work-life balance. Other key findings include:
Salary pressures weigh on workers
- Over half (54%) of NSW professionals feel underpaid, higher than the national average (50%), with more than 1 in 4 (26%) saying their salaries stayed the same in the past year, while 14% saw increases of up to 2.4% and 25% saw increases of between 2.5-5%. Just 12% saw an increase between 6-10%, and 8% experienced increases between 11-15%, and 12% received a pay rise of 16% or more.
- One-third (33%) cited inflation or cost of living as the main reason for their pay change.
- While most workers expect modest salary growth ahead, with 44% anticipating salary growth of 5% or less, NSW workers are also the most likely in Australia to anticipate pay rises above 6% over the next year (38%).
- Some specialist mining roles in NSW continue to see significant increases. The top growing salaries in the state were:
- Mining Jumbo Operators: rising from $128,000 to $250,000 over the past year, a 95% increase and the second-highest growing salary nationally
- Mining Design Drafters: increased from $85,000 to $160,000, an 88% increase.
- Mining Design Managers / Chief Drafters: rose from $130,000 to $225,000, a 73% increase
Workers stay put, but many are actively looking
- While job mobility has remained relatively subdued over the past 12 months, with just one in five (20%) NSW professionals changing employers, close to two in five (39%) are actively looking for a new role, above the national average of 36%.
- Just 31% are optimistic about the wider economic climate and employment opportunities over the next 2-5 years, compared to 33% who are not very or not optimistic at all.
Workplace pressures build and hybrid work remains the norm
- NSW workers are among the most likely to work significant overtime, with 39% reporting more than four hours of overtime per week, including 12% working 7-10 hours, the highest proportion of any state.
- Just 50% are satisfied with their work-life balance, while 22% are dissatisfied, the highest rate of dissatisfaction among states.
- 56% of professionals operate in a hybrid work arrangement, above the national average (52%). Two days working from home remains the most common arrangement, reported by 44% of workers, but most would prefer to work from home three days per week.
