2025 Wrap Up: A Year of Growth and Opportunity For SA

Another year in a booming South Australian economy has brought plenty of growth, opportunity, and stability, and there’s no sign of it slowing down.

For many businesses, hiring remained front and centre throughout 2025. Whether it was finding qualified talent or retaining existing staff, recruitment challenges were a common theme across industries.

One thing I’ve noticed is that some businesses are quick to blame hiring difficulties on “people’s work ethic.” It’s an easy scapegoat, but often not the real issue. The truth is, when most industries are thriving and teams are expanding, demand for people doesn’t grow overnight.

South Australia’s unemployment rate hovered between the high 3% and low 4% range for most of the year. I often give clients this visual: imagine 100 people lined up in a room. If four of them step forward, that’s how many are unemployed. Now, filter that down by the profession, skills, and experience you’re looking for. It’s unlikely any of those four will be your perfect fit.

It’s not a dire situation; it just means hiring today requires strategy and intention. It’s no longer about posting an ad and crossing your fingers; it’s about being proactive, attractive to candidates, and creative in how you find and retain the right people.

Finding the Opportunity

What if South Australian businesses saw this as an opportunity to bring in talent from other states or upskill and teach people who already have the right values and drive. Understanding the difference between your “must-haves” and your “nice-to-haves” is the real key to success in a candidate-short market.

And here’s the biggest catch of all: don’t forget to look around your own workplace.

Recognise the important work your current team is doing to keep your business moving forward. Your people aren’t just numbers; they’re the reason your business is achieving its goals.

It is important to take the time to acknowledge their efforts, listen to their feedback, and create an environment they enjoy being part of, not one they simply tolerate. That’s how you retain great people and attract new ones who want to join your team over anyone else’s.

Now, don’t get me wrong, ghosting at interview, shortage of suitable applicants and counteroffers are still part of the difficulties in this hiring landscape. But with a thoughtful approach, a focus on people, and a bit of flexibility, businesses can navigate these challenges and continue to grow strong teams in South Australia’s thriving market.

Our Year at Blackman Recruitment

Our own business has been no different from many South Australian companies this year. We’ve also grown, evolved, and embraced the boom! These are the truly exciting moments in business, especially as a family-run company, when you see your late nights, early starts, and hard work pay off.

In 2025, our team grew to five, and we proudly celebrated our third birthday! We attended the Family Business Australia Conference in Sydney and partnered with a range of new family-owned businesses across diverse industries. We also took part in our fourth National Tree Day, where our team planted an impressive 94 trees.

This year, we were proud to join and sponsor the UniSA Blackman Recruitment Prize, with the award presented to the bright and enthusiastic Katie Newton. We also continued our community support by sponsoring the Payneham Cricket Club and the Dodges Basketball Club (Golden Grove Central Districts Baseball Club). To top it off, we hosted several informational breakfast events to strengthen connections and share insights... just a few of the many highlights from an incredible year!

As you can see, it’s been an incredibly big year, and I couldn’t be prouder of what the team has achieved. To our clients, thank you for trusting us with your recruitment needs and allowing us to be part of your business journey. To the candidates we’ve met along the way, it’s been a privilege to play a role in your career growth. And to the Blackman Recruitment team and our temporary staff, your dedication, passion, and teamwork have made 2025 our most successful year yet.

As we wrap up, our team will be taking a well-deserved break to rest and recharge.

Our office will be closed from Monday, 22nd December 2025, to Sunday, 4th January 2026, and will reopen on Monday, 5th January 2026.

We wish you a wonderful Christmas surrounded by family, friends, and plenty of good food. May your New Year be filled with success, laughter, and great memories.

From our family to yours, thank you for being part of our journey this year. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!

With joy and gratitude,

Joanne Blackman