Workers are most anxious about their financial wellbeing in 2025, with the lagging effect of inflation and the economy on their jobs weighing heavily on their minds, research by recruiter Robert Half finds.
The company says its research shows workers are worried about any long-lasting financial effects to their hip pocket.
When asked about what concerns they have in 2025, most (87%) employees cited inflation outpacing salary increases, although almost as many (86%) are also concerned about wide economic challenges. Both concerns ranked well ahead of any worries about job security.
Robert Half says the top five concerns for workers in 2025 are:
- Inflation outpacing salary increases (87%)
- Wide economic challenges (86%)
- Job security (72%)
- The ability to find work where I want (71%)
- The ability to find a new job if needed (56%)
Ronil Singh, director at Robert Half, says Kiwi employees are expressing heightened concern about their financial wellbeing this year. “While cash has always been king in the employee experience, workers are laser-focused on how their pay is translating to their current living circumstances.”
“It’s crucial for employers to revisit their compensation packages and prioritise competitive financial remuneration…
Singh notes the data also highlights a significant shift in priorities.
“Work-life balance and flexibility have been top-of-mind in recent years and remain important, however, financial stability has taken centre stage. In this climate, it’s crucial for employers to revisit their compensation packages and prioritise competitive financial remuneration to address employee concerns about financial security.”
The research finds one generation is much more likely to be uneasy about the value of their income in the current economic climate. Almost all (94%) of Generation X employees cited they were concerned about inflation outpacing salary increases, a higher proportion than Millennials (86%), Baby Boomers (86%) and Generation Z (82%).
“Salary worries are not confined to younger workers who generally earn less than their older and more senior counterparts,” Singh says.
“While Gen Z may be slightly less anxious about salary compared to other generations, it’s still a top concern for them, indicating a growing awareness of financial realities among younger workers. Employers, therefore, will need to consider what they can offer workers at all levels when undertaking salary reviews.”
The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in November 2024 by an independent research company among 500 full-time office workers in finance, accounting, and IT and technology. Respondents were drawn from a sample of SMEs as well as large private, publicly-listed and public sector organisations across New Zealand. The survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management, and trends in the workplace.
