Inside the Future of Super 2026
New research reveals a readiness gap ahead of the 1 July 2026 reforms and what it means for employers, employees and retirement outcomes.
With the July 2026 deadline approaching, new data points to a critical gap in business and employee readiness for Payday Super. Employment Hero research found 58% of Australian businesses and 80% of employees are unaware of the change, despite the law taking effect 1 July 2026.
Inside the Future of Super: 2026 Report explores the evolving relationship between super and employment and why frequency and visibility are about to change everything. It brings together employer and employee perspectives on awareness, confidence, operational readiness, and the real cash-flow implications of moving from quarterly to payday-aligned super payments.

Inside the Future of Super: 2026 Report
Download the full report for the latest research, charts and analysis on how Australians engage with super today and what more frequent payments from 1 July 2026 could mean for visibility, confidence and cash flow for both employees and employers.
The headline findings
Findings from Inside the Future of Super: 2026 report suggest the reform will raise expectations on timeliness, accuracy and visibility and expose process gaps faster

Super knowledge
- Nearly half (46%) of businesses report that there is a lack of employee engagement in super.
- This is reflected in what employees knowโฆ
- Only half of the workforce say they have good knowledge about superannuation.
- 90% are aware there is a choice, but only 36% actively chose their current fund
- Only 18% of employees check their super at every pay cycle.
- 7 in 10 (69%) businesses agree that staying on top of regulatory changes is a concern.
- 2 in 3 perceive superannuation as a valuable benefit for their financial future. But 1 in 3 do not see it in this way, instead something that reduces their take-home pay.

Pressure at Payday
- 60% are concerned about their current super processes under Payday Super.
- But 75% of businesses do believe they can adapt and adhere in the first six months.
- 36% of employees have concerns about their employers ability to implement upcoming changes.
- Almost half (45%) of all businesses will require operational shifts to meet payment frequency rules of Payday Super.
- 75% of employees are paid weekly or fortnightly, but only 39% receive super on the same schedule.
- Timing pressures is the number one perceived impact for businesses.
- Visibility will add further pressureโฆ
+33% projected uplift in employees checking their super at every payday.

System Frustrations
- Frustration lies on both sidesโฆ 84% of businesses report at least one frustration with current super processing.
- And most employees donโt find it easyโฆ 68% experience challenges when engaging with their super fund.

Awareness of Payday Super
- While changes are coming soon, 58% of businesses remain unaware of Payday Super.
- 80% of employees are not aware of the changes coming under Payday Super.

Download: key visuals and findings
Shareable insights on employee confidence, employer readiness and Payday Super awareness.
SMB readiness

Key stats on Payday Super awareness, preparedness, confidence and the cash-flow/payment gap for SMBs.
Young Workers

A snapshot of young workersโ trust and understanding of super and how rarely they check contributions each pay.
Gender confidence Gap

Super knowledge confidence by gender, including reliance on family and friends for information.
Payday Super Checklist

Payday Super awareness and employer confidence, plus a practical โ5 things to checkโ checklist for employees ahead of July 2026
New data backs the cashflow crunch
In Inside the Future of Super: 2026 Report, 40% of businesses state the new super requirements will impact their cashflow to the point they may need a line of credit/financing.
Employment Hero modelling shows the average business could need over $124,000 of additional working capital to meet the new payday super requirements.
Our Payday Super Cashflow Calculator will estimate how much additional working capital businesses may need under Payday Super.
What Payday Super changes
From 1 July 2026, employers will be required to pay superannuation on payday rather than quarterly, with contributions generally required to be received by funds within seven business days. That makes super more frequent, more visible and more time-sensitive, shifting it from a periodic obligation to a core payroll workflow.

Why it matters for employers
Payday Super tightens the operating environment. Timing becomes tighter, errors become more costly, and scalable payroll workflows become essential. The research found super admin is already under strain, with returned funds due to errors and manual steps among the most common frustrations.

System Frustrations
Today, super often sits in the background and the data shows it. Less than half of employees actively engaged with their super fund in the past year, and only 18% check super every pay cycle. Payday-aligned payments increase visibility at the exact moment people already pay attention: when theyโre paid.
What do the experts say?
What do Australians say?

About the Research
This report draws on two bespoke surveys commissioned by Employment Hero and conducted with Quantum Market Research (QMR):
- 500 Australian business decision-makers/users of super payment platforms (organisations with 5โ499 employees)
- 1,010 Australian employees actively contributing to a superannuation account. Fieldwork was conducted 4โ18 December. Data has not been weighted due to narrow screener parameters and targeted audiences.
For more information, contact press@employmenthero.com
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