Source: Robert Half
- 87% of New Zealand workers are concerned about the lagging effects of inflation outpacing salary increases in 2025
- Generation X workers (94%) are most worried their salary will not keep up with inflation this year
- Other worries Kiwi workers have include wide economic challenges (86%) and job security (72%).
Auckland, 23 September 2025 – 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, new independent research by specialised recruiter Robert Half finds.
New Zealand’s GDP is rising1 but research reveals 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.
Here are the top five concerns for workers in 2025:
- 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%).
“Kiwi employees are expressing heightened concern about their financial wellbeing this year,” says Ronil Singh, Director at Robert Half. “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.
“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 reveals 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,” concludes Singh.
1 Gross domestic product: March 2025 quarter, Stats NZ, August 2025
About the research
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 are drawn from a sample of SMEs as well as large private, publicly-listed and public sector organisations across New Zealand. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management, and trends in the workplace.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the global, specialised talent solutions provider that helps employers find their next great hire and jobseekers uncover their next opportunity. Robert Half offers both contract and permanent placement services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Robert Half New Zealand has an office in Auckland. More information on roberthalf.com/nz.
