Inside the Report

✔️ How companies are budgeting fixed pay
✔️ Where short-term incentive outcomes are landing
✔️ What are the long-term incentive vesting expectations
✔️ The growing shift toward structured fairness
✔️ Sector insights to help benchmark your approach

What’s Trending This Pulse

• Pay freeze forecasts up — 22% expect no fixed increase
• STIs softening, but still 41% expect 75–100% payouts
• LTIs under pressure — Zero-vesting responses tripled
• Fair pay practices uneven — 13% still rely on ad-hoc decisions

Sector Trends: A Closer Look

• Technology & Comms: 80% budgeting fixed increases ≥ 3
• Resources: 30% planning pay freezes
• Industrials: Most conservative STI outlook, highest zero payouts
• Financials: Most optimistic on LTI outcomes

Why It Matters

In a market defined by cost pressure, shifting expectations and fierce competition for talent, how you reward matters more than ever.

This Pulse reveals how leading organisations are responding and where they may be falling short. Use it to plan with clarity, act with purpose and stay ahead.

Who Contributed

✔️    Over 100 organisations
A mix of ASX-listed, private, government and not-for-profit entities

✔️    Broad sector coverage
Most represented: Materials, Industrials, IT & Communications, Financials

✔️    National market insights
Responses from across Australia provide a diverse and grounded market view

Organisations are managing performance, reward and cost with greater intent. We anticipate a continued focus on fairness, clarity and alignment with strategy.”

— June 2025 Remuneration Pulse