Legal Insights

Employment Law in 2025: Statistical Snapshot

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• 02 December 2025 • 1 min read

We’ve created a snapshot of employment law statistics over FY24 – 25 below, providing a bird's eye view of how the landscape has evolved for employers.

Key statistics

  • Fair Work Commission lodgments

    The Fair Work Commission received 44,075 lodgments across FY2025/2025, which is a 10 per cent increase in the number of lodgments in 2023/24

  • Unfair dismissal claims

    16,500 unfair dismissal claims were received in FY2024/2025 versus 14,772 claims in 2023/24

  • Flexible work arrangement disputes

    306 flexible work arrangement disputes were lodged in FY2024/25 versus 207 disputes in 2023/24

  • General protections involving dismissal claims

    General protections involving dismissal claims are up 45% since 2024

  • Australian Human Rights Commission complaints 

    2,797 Australian Human Rights Commission unlawful discrimination complaints were received, which is a 3 per cent increase from 2023/24

  • National gender pay gap 

    The national gender pay gap in Australia for full-time adult employees now currently sits at 11.5%

  • Superannuation guarantee increase

    The Superannuation guarantee charge percentage increased from 11.5% to 12%

  • National minimum wage increase

    The national minimum wage increased by 3.5% from $915.90 to $948 per week

  • Paid parental leave 

    Paid parental leave available under the Government Paid Parental Leave Scheme increased from 22 weeks (110 days) to 24 weeks (120 days) 

What sectors are most affected? 

These changes have significant implications across healthcare, education, retail, professional services, and manufacturing, where workforce composition and compliance obligations are particularly complex.

As we move towards 2026, employers face an increasingly intricate regulatory environment. Maddocks’ employment law team is here to help you navigate compliance, manage risk, and implement practical strategies tailored to your organisation. 

How Maddocks can help

From policy reviews to dispute resolution, get in touch with us to stay ahead of change.

Bruce Heddle

One of Australia's leading employment and industrial relations litigators, Bruce has extensive experience advising clients in multiple industries.

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Catherine Dunlop

Catherine is one of Australia's leading lawyers working with clients on work health and safety (WHS), behavioural investigations and inquests, inquiries and Royal Commissions.

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Dale McQualter

Dale advises and acts for both private and public sector employers in the areas of workplace health and safety, employment, coronial inquests, and workplace investigations.

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Lindy Richardson

Lindy advises on employment law, with a particular focus on industrial relations, employment, and anti-discrimination law.

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Maree Skinner

Maree is a highly regarded employment lawyer who supports clients in the management of their employee and industrial relations issues.

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Meaghan Bare

Meaghan advises on employment and workplace relations, with strong experience in restructures, discrimination and protections claims, terminations, award interpretation, Fair Work Commission advocacy and unfair dismissals.

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Michael Nicolazzo

Michael leads the Maddocks Employment & Workplace team in Victoria and provides practical, strategic advice on industrial relations, enterprise bargaining, discrimination, contracts, disciplinary matters and protections claims.

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Olivia Hillier

Olivia has extensive private practice experience combined with the unique insight gained from in-house experience with one of Australia’s largest employers.

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Ross Jackson

A leading employment lawyer, Ross has extensive experience advising government, statutory authorities and public and private sector organisations in employment and industrial relations matters.

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