Future of Work Survey Results

The Committee has commissioned market research firm Ipsos to conduct independent research into the future of Western Australia's work and workforce surveying more than 1,000 people across all walks of life in the state plus more than 40 senior business leaders.

The surveys were undertaken as part of the Committee’s Future of Work research project, which aims to equip WA and its people for the changing world of work.

Key Findings:

• One-in-two people surveyed expect technology to significantly or completely change the way they work in the next decade.
• COVID-19 created the step change for businesses to implement a more agile workforce. Pre-COVID-19, 27.7% of workplaces had agile working arrangements for their staff, with that number now reaching 53.7%.
• 23% of people are still working from home three or more days per week, however there are pros and cons to these arrangements.
• Casual workers, sole traders and SME owners were most impacted by COVID-19 changes – with 18% of casual workers surveyed losing their jobs versus 8% of full-time/part-time employees.
• Almost a third of businesses surveyed (32%) accessed JobKeeper throughout the pandemic.
• 70% of the WA workforce is feeling secure in their current role, however there is a divide between regional and metropolitan workers, with 78% of regional workers feeling secure versus 69% of metro workers.
• The proportion of full-time workers is decreasing – from 80.5% of the workforce 5-10 years ago to 74.4% now (post-COVID) and projected to drop to 69.8% in 5-10 years’ time.
• Accessing a skilled workforce remains a major challenge, with 49% of businesses reporting they found it somewhat difficult to access the skills they needed.
• WA businesses are actively trying to respond to predicted future trends, including through adopting new technology, increasing training for staff and offering more flexible employment options.