The Future Report

Australia is currently navigating a period of business and social transformation. While the economy faces record business exits due to rising input costs and price shocks, the entrepreneurial spirit remains resilient, particularly within the healthcare and construction sectors. This economic pressure is acting as a catalyst for a national reshuffle, with population data revealing a mass migration away from traditional hubs in New South Wales toward the lifestyle and affordability of Western Australia and Queensland. This movement signifies a broader societal shift as Australians prioritise liveability and secure employment in an increasingly volatile financial landscape. Simultaneously, the digital age is introducing a new form of psychological friction. Despite being the most savvy users, Gen Z is reporting the highest levels of overwhelm caused by the constant bombardment of notifications and digital alerts. This tension between technological efficiency and mental wellbeing mirrors a shifting perspective on the human lifecycle. While many Australians look back on their twenties as the peak of life, the growing longevity boom is forcing a re-evaluation of our later years. Society is moving toward a future where community contribution and intergenerational connection define success just as much as economic output or youthful vitality. Access McCrindle Plus here: https://mccrindle.com.au/mccrindle-plus/

The current consumer landscape is defined by a paradox. Where geopolitical tensions and rising costs of living coexist with people leaning into small luxuries purchases. Nearly 8 in 10 Australians are concerned about inflation, with consumers are migrating toward budget brands for household essentials while simultaneously doubling down on investments like private education and premium self-care. This shift reflects a psychological need for agency and comfort in an unstable world, where a small luxury or a quality product serves as a tangible anchor of stability. Beyond consumer sentiment, the broader community is grappling with the transition toward post-materialism, valuing experiences and relationships over the accumulation of possessions. To thrive, organisations must lean into timeless human needs for belonging, authenticity, and beauty, providing a consistent sense of purpose for a younger generation that views future uncertainty as a primary barrier to their wellbeing. Download the Consumer Paradoxes Infographic here: https://mccrindle.com.au/resource/infographic/consumer-paradoxes-infographic/ Access McCrindle Plus here: https://mccrindle.com.au/mccrindle-plus/

The current sociological landscape is defined by a significant decline in trust toward institutions and global leadership. As a result, there is a visible shift toward localism, where individuals prioritise relationships with smaller, more tangible entities. This movement suggests that for leaders to be effective today, they must move beyond mere competence and focus on character and consultative processes that bring stakeholders along on a shared journey. In the workplace, this distrust is compounded by the complexities of ageism, which often impacts both Gen Z and Baby Boomers through different forms of bias. While younger generations seek greater agency, older generations navigate a rapidly evolving digital environment. To foster a cohesive culture, leaders must pivot from viewing diversity as a source of friction to leveraging it as a tool for innovation. By pairing the energy of youth with the wisdom of experience, organisations can move toward a model of generational cohesion that values the human element over systemic labels. Download our infographic on the different generations in the workforce: https://mccrindle.com.au/resource/infographic/worker-profiles-infographic/ Access McCrindle Plus here: https://mccrindle.com.au/mccrindle-plus/

Once upon a time people used to worry about overpopulation. Now, the opposite is happening. Australia’s birth rate has dropped to a record low, but it isn't just an Australian story, it's a global shift of a population plateau. Second, we explore the "Retention Revolution." With Gen Z now averaging 18 jobs across 6 careers, the traditional leadership pipeline is breaking. How do you lead a team when the average tenure is shorter than ever?

To lead well into the future, we must first understand the pulse of the present. This year, we’re doing things differently at The Future Report, intersecting McCrindle’s latest research with the current events shaping our world. Join Sophie Renton and Geoff Brailey as they explore the defining trends of 2026. They discuss the ‘Personality Premium’ and the growing need for authentic, human-centred leadership in an era of declining institutional trust. They also tackle the complex narrative of ‘Hope Under Strain' looking at how Australians are navigating housing stress and global unrest with a tempered but persistent optimism. This episode provides the stats and reflections you need to future-proof your organisation.

Although we’re futurists by trade, we know that the future only makes sense when it’s grounded in the past. Looking back gives us context, clarity, and some really useful clues about what might lie ahead. To wrap up season 17 (and 2025!), our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to reflect on the year that’s been - the moments, movements, and megatrends that have shaped it.

Each year at McCrindle, we release our trends of the year predictions - the trends that we think will shape the year ahead. From demographic, to technological and social trends, it’s a fascinating look into the future. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Founder and Principal, Mark McCrindle, to discuss these trends.

The conversation about diversity often focuses on gender, culture, or background - but not always on age. Yet ageism - whether directed at younger people seen as “too inexperienced” or older people seen as “past their prime” - can limit innovation, collaboration, and opportunities. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to unpack what ageism really looks like, how it impacts individuals and organisations, and what we can do to create truly age-inclusive communities.

Gen Z, aged in their late teens and 20s today, already comprise more than a quarter of the global workforce. But many people don’t know how to engage, attract, recruit and retain this emerging generation. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Director of Solutions, Geoff Brailey, to discuss Gen Z at work.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we work, learn, create, and even connect. But like every major shift before it, this one raises as many questions as it does opportunities. How do we use AI to enhance human potential rather than replace it? What skills will matter most in a world of intelligent machines? And what does leadership look like in an era where data canthink? In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and Future Report host, Ashley Fell, to discuss the AI revolution.

The dynamic between schools and families is becoming increasingly complex. Why? Because new generations of parents are coming through and bringing with them new communication styles, expectations and values. So how can schools respond? In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle's Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to share some insights into engaging the next generation of school parents.

We often hear people from different age groups claim they had it tougher than the rest - from rising costs to housing pressures, each generation argues their struggle is unique. But what does the data actually say? In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with social researcher and generational expert, Ashley Fell, to dig into some of McCrindle’s recent generational analysis: comparing Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z on income, housing affordability, inflation, technology access, and more.

Language is always evolving - and for Generation Alpha, who are growing up fully immersed in digital culture, slang is more than just words. It’s a way of connecting, creating identity, and signalling belonging online and offline. From TikTok trends to schoolyard lingo, Gen Alpha has a whole vocabulary that might leave older generations scratching their heads - and sometimes even Gen Z a little confused! In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with two of McCrindle's Gen Z team members, Holly Schaaf and Luke Davies, to help decode this generation and their slang.

From streaming platforms and meal kits to beauty boxes and even pet food deliveries - it seems there’s a subscription for just about everything. But what’s driving this shift from ownership to access? And why are some generations more on board than others? To kick off season 17, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with podcast host and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to unpack McCrindle’s latest insights on the subscription economy.

Gen Alpha are the most materially endowed generation ever, the most technologically savvy generation ever and they will enjoy a longer life span than any previous generation. They will stay in education longer, start their earning years later and stay at home with their parents later than even Gen Z and Gen Y who went before them. They are clearly an important generation to understand! To wrap up season 16, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory, Ashley Fell, and McCrindle's Marketing and Insights Strategist, Luke Davies, to discuss recent research we were involved with on how Gen Alpha learn, spend and see the future.

The education sector sits at the heart of so many communities. And yet they're facing a lot of change. From generational to demographic and technological - all these trends are shaping the future of education. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's Director of Advisory and podcast host, Ashley Fell, to talk about how thriving schools stay ahead of change.

Consumer behaviour is always changing, and brand managers probably wish it was simple to understand and respond to. But, it’s a bit more complex than that. That’s why we made the focus of our recent consumer insights report about the megatrends shaping the consumer landscape – framed through paradoxes. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to explore what’s shaping the future consumer.

As you may have heard, we recently celebrated 20 years as a business here at McCrindle! It’s an exciting milestone, and we’re fortunate to have team members who've been part of the journey for over 12 years now (and counting!). In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with McCrindle's longest standing employees - Creative Director Ben Duffin and Director of Advisory Ashley Fell - to share stories and reflections from their time here.

Since the dawn of time, humans have told stories. Around campfires, in books, through film, and now, in business and data. But why? Because stories connect us. And when told well, they make ideas stick, bring data to life, and inspire action. In this week's episode, our podcast producer, Holly Schaaf, sits down with Future Report host and Director of Advisory at McCrindle, Ashley Fell, to talk about the power of storytelling in a digital era.

Attracting and retaining great people in an organisation is no easy feat. A key part of thriving organisations is the people who work for them, how engaged they are in their work, and whether or not they feel part of the culture of their organisation. But what is culture? It can be hard to define and even harder to measure. That is why we developed a cultural health index. In this week's episode, our host, Ashley Fell, sits down with McCrindle’s Managing Director, Sophie Renton, to discuss building tomorrow’s teams and learnings from our cultural health index.