As EOFY approaches and budgets come under the microscope, the conversation in Australian agencies and marketing boardrooms are changing. For many, the challenge is no longer simply digital transformation or AI adoption. The focus has shifted to building marketing teams that can drive commercial growth in a more complex and increasingly AI-enabled market. At iknowho , our conversations with senior marketing talent, CMOs, and business leaders across Australia point to a clear shift in both employer expectations and candidate priorities. The marketers in demand in today’s market are commercially fluent, strategically agile, and able to apply technology in ways that genuinely impact business performance. As specialist recruiters with deep marketing industry experience, we are seeing the organisations attracting the strongest talent take a far more strategic approach to workforce planning heading into FY27. The following data aims to provide a snapshot of the conversations we are having with top talent and hiring managers, highlighting the notable trends we are seeing impacting the marketing recruitment industry. In this article we cover the most in demand roles of 2026, the most successful hybrid working strategy (according to the data), how AI literacy is being benchmarked and measured, what a holistic benefits package should compromise of, and finally the marketing and digital skills we see emerging as must haves. Let’s dive in! The Shift from AI Adoption to Commercial Application The AI conversation has matured quickly. In 2024, businesses were focused on experimentation and adoption. In 2026, the focus is far more practical: how AI provides measurable outcomes in efficiency, decision making, customer engagement, and commercial success. Recent Gartner research found CMOs are now allocating an average of 15.3% of marketing budgets toward AI initiatives, yet only 30% believe their organisations are truly ready to scale those capabilities effectively. Gartner 2026 CMO Spend Survey The gap between investment and operational readiness is becoming one of the defining workforce challenges facing marketing leaders heading into FY27. Increasingly, businesses are looking for marketers who can operate confidently across both digital, brand and commercial conversations. What Top Talent Is Looking for in A Job Offer Salary remains important, however it is no longer the sole differentiator for senior candidates. The strongest talent is increasingly assessing organisations holistically, evaluating leadership quality, flexibility, culture, development opportunities, and long-term business direction. Key themes emerging across the market include: Equity & Long-Term Incentives Given the demand for growth marketing specialists, equity participation continues to play a significant role in attracting senior talent. Wellbeing & Sustainable Performance Mental wellbeing support is increasingly viewed as part of core workplace infrastructure rather than an employee perk. Candidates are paying close attention to leadership style, workload sustainability, and psychologically safe environments. Purpose & ESG Alignment There is also growing interest in organisations where ESG commitments are reflected operationally rather than positioned purely as brand messaging. The businesses attracting the strongest candidates are typically those with clear leadership, strong internal culture, and a compelling long-term growth narrative. The Era of “Purposeful Presence” The hybrid debate has largely settled. The focus has now shifted to how organisations create flexibility while maintaining culture, collaboration, and accountability. Across marketing, communications, and technology functions, hybrid work remains the dominant preference, with most professionals favouring some variation of a flexible working model. The “3/2” structure continues to be one of the most preferred formats. Recent Australian workforce research continues to show that approximately 70–80% of professionals favour hybrid working arrangements, while businesses embracing structured hybrid models are reporting stronger engagement and reduced burnout. At the same time, many organisations are moving away from rigid office mandates and toward more intentional workplace structures including collaboration-focused office days, team planning sessions, and greater autonomy around how work is delivered. At iknowho, we describe this shift as Purposeful Presence: creating environments where teams come together with clear intent, rather than attendance for attendance’s sake. Importantly, candidates are increasingly evaluating not just flexibility itself, but the quality of leadership and communication surrounding it. Businesses that approach hybrid strategy reactively are finding it increasingly difficult to retain high-performing talent. Retention Through Learning & Development Retention is becoming more closely tied to development opportunities, particularly as AI and automation continue reshaping the industry. Marketing professionals are actively looking for employers investing in practical capability building across areas such as: AI and marketing automation CRM and lifecycle strategy Data analytics and storytelling Commercial and financial capability Customer growth and retention Short-form learning and practical micro-credentials are becoming increasingly common as businesses look to upskill teams quickly and effectively. The organisations retaining top performers are typically those treating capability development as a long-term business investment rather than a short-term training initiative. The Roles Seeing the Strongest Demand Hiring demand remains strongest for positions operating across marketing, product, customer experience, and automation. The most active areas include: Product Marketing Manager Marketing Automation Manager CRM & Loyalty Specialist Marketing Analyst These roles reflect the broader shift toward measurable performance, retention, and commercially accountable marketing functions. We are also seeing increasing demand for marketers who can operate cross-functionally and influence beyond traditional marketing silos. The Skills Defining the Next Generation of Marketers While technical capability remains important, the market is increasingly rewarding marketers who combine commercial understanding with strategic thinking and human insight. Importantly, the current challenge for many organisations is no longer AI adoption itself, but the internal capability required to operationalise it effectively. Gartner’s latest CMO Spend Survey found that while becoming an AI leader remains a priority for most marketing leaders, only 30% report mature AI readiness capabilities within their organisations. Gartner 2026 CMO Spend Survey The strongest candidates are demonstrating capability across: AI strategy and implementation Data interpretation and decision making Commercial and financial literacy Customer growth and retention strategy Cross-functional communication and influence Increasingly, the marketers creating the greatest impact are those able to combine technology with commercial thinking, leadership capability, and customer understanding. Marketing Leadership Is Also Shifting Movement across senior marketing leadership roles has remained active throughout 2025 and into 2026, particularly across consumer, retail, financial services, and telecommunications sectors. According to Gartner 2026 CMO Spend Survey Marketing budgets remain effectively flat, rising only slightly to 7.8% of company revenue in 2026 from 7.7% in 2025. As businesses operate under increased budget scrutiny, the remit of the modern CMO continues to expand well beyond traditional brand leadership into customer experience, growth strategy, digital transformation, data, and AI integration. As a result, businesses are increasingly seeking marketing leaders who combine commercial capability with cross-functional influence, operational agility, and strategic leadership. In our experience, the organisations securing the strongest leadership talent are those able to articulate not only role scope, but also business vision, growth trajectory, leadership alignment, and cultural maturity. Conclusion EOFY 2026 presents an opportunity for organisations to reassess not only budgets, but capability, culture, leadership, and long-term workforce strategy. The businesses best positioned for FY27 growth are likely to be those investing in:  Commercial marketing capability Strategic AI integration Leadership and retention Flexible, high-performance cultures Ongoing learning and development At iknowho , we work closely with Australia’s leading marketing professionals and employers to understand the workforce trends shaping the next phase of growth. As specialist recruiters with lived marketing industry experience, we believe the role of recruitment has evolved beyond talent acquisition alone. Increasingly, businesses are seeking industry partners who can provide market insight, workforce strategy, leadership advisory, and access to high-performing talent before it reaches the broader market. The organisations that attract and retain the strongest marketing talent over the next 12 months will not simply be hiring faster they will be planning smarter.