Younger Workers the Top Beneficiaries of 2022 Pay Rises

Younger workers have been the largest beneficiaries of pay rises this year, while older generations are also being overlooked in other key ways, according to research released today.

Nearly half of Millennials (47%) received a pay rise over the past year, compared to just 26% of Gen X and 27% of Baby Boomers.

And Randstad's latest Workmonitor research paints a picture of some other "stark" generational differences that have manifested in workplaces this year:

Younger Millennials (42%) are the most likely to have received a pay rise or bonus this year, compared to 33% of Australians overall;

Only one-fifth (20%) of workers have received increased training or development opportunities, including just 11% of Baby Boomers;

Just 14% of people have received increased employee benefits, with Gen Z most likely (39%) and Baby Boomers the least likely (4%) and;

Some 15% of workers have received increased support for families and dependents (childcare support, parental leave, carers' leave), with Gen Z (30%) benefiting the most. This compares to Gen X (19%) and Baby Boomers (5%).

The findings suggest older workers aren't receiving the same levels of inclusion compared to the attention given to younger workforce generations, Randstad NSW director Jo Jakobs says.

"These findings can be explained in part by the emerging differences in employee sentiment as younger generations have shifted to a 'work to live' mentality and speak up if they feel this is not being supported by their employer," she says.