Young Australians are prioritising job security, growth prospects, and workplace connection as they shape their employment preferences for 2025, according to new survey results from the 2025 Hatch Hotlist.

The survey, conducted by the jobs platform Hatch, polled nearly 2,000 Gen Z and Millennial professionals to discover which companies they most aspire to work for and what factors influence their career decisions.

Google, Canva, and Amazon topped the list of most desired employers. Of the top 20, twelve organisations were either founded in or based in Australia, including Atlassian, Qantas, and the NSW Government. Google was favoured for its focus on innovation and potential for career growth, while Canva stood out for its mission-oriented culture and status as an Australian success story. Amazon was noted for providing a wide range of career opportunities and its advanced technology.

Key drivers

Survey participants highlighted their top concerns when evaluating job opportunities. The most commonly cited red flags included unclear career advancement pathways (37%), high turnover within teams (37%), ambiguous role descriptions (33%), and limited flexible work options (31%). Salary transparency was also important to respondents.

Hatch co-founder Adam Jacobs observed that security is the main theme for young Australian job seekers. He remarked,

“Security is the dominant theme this year, which did not surprise me given the fast-changing world of work for young Australians. Young people are looking for job stability in an AI world, but they also want roles where they can grow, where workplaces are flexible, and where they are properly compensated. The best employers are clear about career paths and set people up to succeed.”

The research also pointed to the prevalence of side hustles among younger workers. Four out of five respondents either have a secondary income stream or wish to develop one, reflecting a desire to diversify skills and earnings.

Jacobs said,

“Side hustles are on the rise, with more and more young Australians eager to try their hand at starting their own thing, while keeping a stable day job. Side hustles should be seen as a sign of curiosity, ownership, and drive.”

Work arrangements

The preference for hybrid work has solidified. Nearly 90% of those surveyed want to spend part of their working week in the office, with two or three days cited as the optimal balance for both workplace connection and learning. Only 13% prefer to work fully remotely, a drop from 23% in 2024, while 12% want to be in the office full-time.

Jacobs commented,

“Compared with last year, we are seeing more people wanting time in the office again. Flexible work policies are now table stakes, but connection and structure matter too. After years of remote work, people want clear rhythms for when to be together and how to make that time valuable.”

Technology and hiring practices

AI is increasingly being used in job application processes, with more than half of respondents indicating they have used AI tools to write cover letters or edit their resumes.

Poor hiring experiences were also noted, with 75% of job seekers reporting being “ghosted” by employers often or most of the time. Forty per cent said this left them feeling disrespected, and nearly one third refuse to reapply to companies that have previously ignored their applications.

Hatch Head of AI and ML, Dr Arwen Griffioen, warned of the potential impact that growing reliance on AI could have on the hiring process. She stated,

“There is a real risk that as AI becomes more sophisticated and widely used, we will see a homogenisation of applications where everyone starts to sound the same. Employers will need to find new ways to identify personality, creativity, and culture fit, while keeping the human element at the centre of hiring.”

Growth and optimism

Despite persistent economic uncertainty, sentiment among young professionals remains high. Seventy-nine per cent expressed optimism about their career outlook, an increase from 75% in the previous year. Nearly half reported feeling strongly positive about their prospects.

Gender differences

The survey identified notable gender differences in workplace priorities. Women were more likely to value flexible working arrangements, with 35% ranking this as important compared to 29% of men. Women also placed greater importance on diversity initiatives (22% versus 14% of men).

According to the Hotlist, the most desired workplaces in alphabetical order included ABC, Accenture, Adobe, Airbnb, Allianz, Amazon, ANZ, Atlassian, Canva, Commonwealth Bank, Deloitte, Freelancer.com, Google, Macquarie Group, NSW Government, Qantas, THE ICONIC, TikTok, Virgin Australia, and Woolworths Group.

Notable high-growth scaleups listed comprised Blackbird, CultureAmp, Deputy, Eucalyptus, HelloFresh, Notion, OwnHome, Pet Circle, SafetyCulture, and Unyoked.