23 Aug ASX HOPES FOR A BETTER 2025; WAKE UP, EMPLOYERS
ASX HOPES FOR A BETTER 2025
It’s no secret that the IPO pipeline has been dry this year, with the much anticipated Virgin IPO getting repeatedly pushed back over concerns about pricing.
Only 56 companies have listed on the ASX in the past year and the exchange has also seen a raft of exits, with Marley Spoon, Boral, and CSR amongst the 156 companies choosing to de-list from the ASX in fiscal 2024.
Higher interest rates, corporate takeovers, and the less regulated embrace of private equity groups have kept companies off the stock market, but the ASX is remaining positive, with ASX Listings General Manager James Posnett telling the SMH this week that the worst of the cycle is likely over.
WAKE UP, EMPLOYERS
Employee engagement levels are in, and they are alarming. Employee engagement platform, Reward Gateway, recently revealed data demonstrating an interesting paradox; Australian employees are staying in their roles, yet engagement levels are at an all time low.
The survey reached more than 2,300 Australian employees and HR professionals and found that 74 per cent said that once the economy improved, they would leave their jobs.
Deemed a “wake-up call for Australian businesses” by Kylie Green, Managing Director APAC at Reward Gateway, the data highlights job security as a topic front-of-mind for employees, especially as Deloitte Access Economics’ latest report forecasts a hiring freeze across the private sector.
LONG HAULS, HIGH REWARDS
Being a super commuter is no small feat. For Murwillumbah cargo pilot Petr Pelikan, a 22-hour, 15,000-kilometer commute to Alaska is just part of the job, along with the reward of flying a Boeing 747 and a substantial paycheck.
While these benefits are significant and mirror the experiences of around 400,000 Australian super commuters – Pelikan admits that the hardest part is the emotional strain of being away from his family for two weeks at a time.
This sentiment echoes research by David Bissell, a human geography expert, who found that many super commuters experience emotional instability due to the impact on their relationships. Yet, with large financial incentives on the table, it’s clear some are willing to go the extra mile – literally.
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