Cyber Threats, Regulatory Change and Talent Shortages Dominate Australia’s Top Business Risks: Aon Survey
SYDNEY, 6 Nov. 2025 - Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has released the Australian findings from its 2025 Global Risk Management Survey, revealing a business landscape shaped by persistent cyber threats, evolving regulation and ongoing talent challenges.
The biennial survey, which gathered insights from nearly 3,000 risk managers, executives and C-suite leaders across 63 countries, — including Australia and New Zealand — highlights how Australian organisations are navigating a complex environment marked by workforce pressures, financial volatility and the growing impact of extreme weather events.
Cyber resilience remains the top priority for Australian businesses, with “Cyber Attacks and Data Breaches” ranked as the number one risk – mirroring the global trend. Notably, 93 percent of Australian respondents report having structured review processes in place — one of the highest rates globally.
“Cyber threats are no longer confined to data breaches — they have evolved into systemic business risks that can disrupt operations, supply chains and reputations,” said Adam Peckman, global head of cyber risk consulting and head of Cyber Solutions for APAC at Aon. “Quantifying cyber exposure through analytics gives organisations the visibility to prioritise investments, reduce loss potential and strengthen resilience at an enterprise level.”
“Regulatory and Legislative Change” continues its two decade-long presence among the top risks, reflecting the challenges of operating in an environment of shifting regulation and heightened scrutiny, particularly in sectors such as financial services, technology and energy.
2025 Top 10 Business Risks in Australia
- Cyber Attacks/Data Breach
- Regulatory/Legislative Changes
- Damage to Reputation/Brand
- Economic Slowdown/Slow Recovery
- Business Interruption
- Failure to Attract or Retain Top Talent
- Cash Flow/Liquidity Risk
- Weather/Natural Disasters
- Workforce Shortage
- Supply Chain or Distribution Failure
Distinctive Australian Trends Emerge When Compared to Global Results:
“Weather and Natural Disasters” entered Australia’s top 10 for the first time, ranking eighth, while this risk did not feature in the global top 10. In fact, 79 percent of Australian businesses reported losses from weather-related incidents — the highest proportion for any risk in the local survey results.
People-related risks such as “Failure to Attract or Retain Top Talent” (sixth) and “Workforce Shortage” (ninth) remain prominent in Australia, even as these risks have fallen out of the global top 10. This demonstrates ongoing challenges in sourcing and retaining skilled talent across critical industries, particularly in healthcare, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Simon Kennedy, managing director for Human Capital, Pacific, at Aon, said, “Australia’s tight labour market and ageing workforce are creating long-term skills gaps across key industries. Businesses are now viewing workforce resilience as a core component of enterprise risk management, linking talent attraction and retention strategies to performance and continuity outcomes.”
Conversely, geopolitical volatility — which surged into the global top 10 for the first time — did not appear in Australia’s top 10, reflecting a different risk profile compared to global peers.
Kevan Johnston, CEO of Australia for Aon, said: “Australian organisations are redefining resilience as they face converging risks — from cyber threats and regulatory uncertainty to workforce and climate challenges. The survey shows a shift towards more integrated risk management, linking resilience planning with strategy, workforce and capital decisions.”
Looking ahead, the survey reveals Australia’s top five future business risks by 2028:
- Cyber Attacks/Data Breach
- Regulatory/Legislative Changes
- Economic Slowdown/Slow Recovery
- Workforce Shortage
- Cash Flow/Liquidity Risk and Increasing Competition (tied)
These projections reflect the continued convergence of financial, human and digital risks shaping the Australian business environment.
To access the full report and explore how Aon is helping clients navigate today's disruption dynamic, visit https://www.aon.com/grms.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that protect and grow their businesses.
Follow Aon on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram. Stay up-to-date by visiting the Aon's newsroom and sign up for news alerts here.