Survey: Australian workers look beyond salarySurvey: Australian workers look beyond salary

Australian employees are increasingly looking beyond their pay packet for ways to grow their money, with shares and equity emerging as a key part of how they want to build wealth.

Australians are open to taking pay in shares

A striking 76% of Australian employees surveyed say they would consider taking at least some of their pay in shares if the option was available. Importantly, this isn’t just theoretical interest, as of these, most respondents (73%) would be open to allocating up to 10% of their pay, showing a genuine willingness to participate. This points to a growing appetite for ownership, not just income, as part of how Australian workers build wealth.

Susannah Batley, General Manager of Sharesies Business, said: “Australians are starting to realise that a salary on its own isn’t going to deliver long-term wealth. What’s interesting is they’re not just asking for more pay, they’re looking for smarter ways to build wealth over time, and shares are increasingly part of that conversation.”

Young Australians are leading the shift

Almost six in ten employees surveyed aged 18–34 (57%) say they are more open to non-traditional pay, such as shares or enhanced super, than they were five years ago. This compares to just 28% of Gen X and 21% of Baby Boomers. This number suggests attitudes may be changing about how work and wealth are connected, with younger Australian workers more likely to see their job as a pathway to long-term financial growth, not just a pay cheque.

But most Australians don’t know how to access it

Despite strong interest, many Australian employees are still unsure how share-based pay actually works. Half of Australian employees (51%) surveyed say they are unfamiliar with employee share schemes, including 20% who are not at all familiar and 31% who have only a basic understanding. This creates a clear disconnect between demand and access, with many Australian employees open to new ways of building wealth through work, but lacking the knowledge or opportunity to do so.

It’s not about replacing salary, it’s about building more

The findings don’t suggest Australian employees want to trade pay for shares, but rather broaden how they’re rewarded. Almost half (48%) of Australian employees surveyed still say maximising take-home pay today matters most, while 43% say they would prefer a package that helps build long-term wealth through options like shares, equity or superannuation. At the same time, confidence in financial futures remains mixed, with only 13% of Australian employees surveyed saying they feel very confident in their ability to build wealth over the next 10 years.

An opportunity for employers

With strong appetite but low awareness, the research points to an opportunity for workplaces. Employee share schemes have the potential to help Australian workers build wealth over time, while also giving employees a more direct stake in company success. But without clear communication, education and access, the gap between interest and access is unlikely to close, and many Australian employees are likely to remain on the sidelines.

Batley said: “There’s a real opportunity here to bridge the gap between interest and understanding. Employees are open to new ways of building wealth, but they need it to be simple, transparent and easy to access. The organisations that can do that well will stand out.”

Research methodology

The Sharesies research was conducted online by YouGov among 1,014 Australian employees (excluding sole traders) aged 18+ and weighted by age, gender and region.

• Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.

• Significant differences have been reported at the 95% confidence interval.

• This study has been carried out in accordance with the ISO 20252:2019 standards, to which YouGov is accredited.