Tech Workers Lead Australia’s Push For Employee Share Ownership As Salary Alone Falls Short

More than three-quarters of Australian employees would consider taking part of their pay in company shares if offered, according to new research that suggests a growing disconnect between traditional salary models and workers’ expectations around long-term wealth building.

The research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of wealth platform Sharesies, found that 76 per cent of Australian employees surveyed would consider allocating at least some of their pay to shares. Of those, 73 per cent indicated they would be willing to direct up to 10 per cent of their pay towards company equity.

The findings come as more than half of Australian employees surveyed – 53 per cent – say they do not believe salary alone is sufficient to build long-term wealth.

Tech sector out in front

Technology and IT workers emerged as the group with the strongest appetite for ownership-based pay models.

More than four in five tech workers surveyed – 82 per cent – said they are confident about their financial future, while two-thirds (66 per cent) indicated they are open to non-traditional workplace benefits such as company shares and equity.

Tech workers were also the most likely to have received a pay rise or bonus in the past 12 months, at 70 per cent, and were more likely than workers in other industries to view profitable investments as a key marker of financial wealth, at 46 per cent.

The pattern suggests that the sector’s existing familiarity with equity-based compensation – common in startups and established technology companies alike – may be influencing broader attitudes towards share ownership as a component of total remuneration.

A generational shift in expectations

The research points to a clear generational divide in attitudes towards non-traditional pay structures.

Among employees aged 18 to 34, 57 per cent said they are more open to non-traditional pay models – such as shares or enhanced superannuation – than they were five years ago. That compares with 28 per cent of Gen X workers and just 21 per cent of Baby Boomers.

Younger Australians appear more likely to view their employment as a pathway to long-term financial growth rather than simply a source of income, with shares and equity increasingly part of how they think about building wealth.

Susannah Batley, General Manager of Sharesies Business, described the shift as a fundamental change in how Australians think about earning and saving.

“Australians are starting to realise that a salary on its own isn’t going to deliver long-term wealth,” Batley explained. “What’s interesting is they’re not just asking for more pay, they’re looking for smarter ways to build wealth over time, and shares are increasingly part of that conversation.”

Awareness gap persists

Despite the strong interest, a significant gap remains between demand for share-based pay and workers’ understanding of how it actually works.

Half of all Australian employees surveyed – 51 per cent – said they are unfamiliar with employee share schemes. That figure includes 20 per cent who said they are not at all familiar and 31 per cent who have only a basic understanding.

The disconnect creates a situation where many workers are open to new ways of building wealth through their employment but lack the knowledge or access to participate.

Not a replacement for salary

The research does not suggest employees want to trade their salary for shares outright. Almost half of those surveyed – 48 per cent – said maximising take-home pay today remains their priority.

However, 43 per cent indicated they would prefer a remuneration package that helps build long-term wealth through options such as shares, equity or superannuation contributions.

Confidence in financial futures remains mixed. Only 13 per cent of employees surveyed said they feel very confident in their ability to build wealth over the next decade.

An opportunity employers are missing

The combination of strong interest and low awareness represents an area where employers could differentiate themselves, according to the research. Employee share schemes offer a way for organisations to give workers a direct stake in company performance while helping them build wealth over time – but the mechanisms need to be clearly communicated and easy to access.

Batley noted that the gap between interest and understanding presents a clear opportunity for employers willing to invest in education and accessibility.

“Employees are open to new ways of building wealth, but they need it to be simple, transparent and easy to access,” she said. “The organisations that can do that well will stand out.”

The Sharesies research was conducted online by YouGov among 1,014 Australian employees aged 18 and over, excluding sole traders, and weighted by age, gender and region to reflect ABS population estimates. The study was carried out in accordance with ISO 20252:2019 standards.

Sharesies operates a wealth platform used by more than one million users across Australia and New Zealand, with more than $10 billion in platform assets. Its business division works with more than 600 private and listed companies across Australasia on capital raising, registry services and staff share schemes.

Last Updated on July 6, 2026 by Nick Ross