Survey Findings – Key Insights 2025

Survey Findings – Key Insights 2025

At Clark, we’re committed to keeping close to the market so we can support employers with real-time insights. Our recent Employer Survey gathered feedback from a wide range of industries — including education, not-for-profit, pharma, telecoms, professional services, aviation, manufacturing, semiconductors, logistics, construction, healthcare, automotive, IT & cybersecurity, retail, food & beverage, and medical devices.

As we move through 2025 and into the final quarter of the year, companies are seeing the following trends:

  • Growth Confidence – Most organisations are more confident or steady in growth compared to last year.

  • Workforce Plans – The majority expect to expand or maintain their workforce, focusing on customer-facing and tech roles.

  • External Pressures – Economic conditions, technology changes, talent availability, and regulation are the top concerns.

  • Talent Challenges – Attracting skilled candidates and retaining staff amid salary pressures and limited progression are key challenges.

  • Skills in Demand – Cybersecurity, AI, customer service, trade skills, and interpersonal skills will be critical.

  • Addressing Skills Gaps – Firms plan to upskill staff, hire from other industries, and recruit internationally.

  • AI Impact – Seen as a productivity benefit, impacting customer-facing, production, and e-commerce roles.

  • Culture & Morale – Leadership development, engagement, and innovation are top 2025 and early 2026 priorities; morale is moderate–high.

  • Employment Market – Employers want changes in visa rules, wage expectations, and resilience against offshoring.

At Clark, we’re here to partner with businesses to navigate these challenges — from attracting and retaining top talent to creating workforce strategies that enable long-term growth.

If you’d like to discuss these findings and what they could mean for your business, get in touch with our team today.

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