Opportunity

Think beyond the home loan – your existing customer base includes business owners, self-employed clients and past first home buyers moving into their next stage of life. By segmenting clients - for instance, filtering it for ABN holders, self-employed clients, first home buyers in their 30s - you can start to see who might need your support.

Used well, technology frees brokers from process so they can focus on what matters most to their clients and pipeline: specialist and strategic advice, informed by your client data.

Tech tools

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Investing in smart tech tools

Opportunity

Build referral relationships within cultural communities and help borrowers translate their options — from multi‑generational living arrangements in new master-planned estates to new business start‑ups and investment pathways.

With 32% of Australians born overseas, multicultural borrower segments are growing fast. These customers are often ambitious, community‑driven and far more likely to start businesses — creating additional lending needs beyond the first home.

Navigating an unfamiliar financial system means trust and guidance matter more than ever.

Cultural diversity shaping new borrower needs

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Cultural diversity shaping new borrower needs

Opportunity

More borrowers will need structure, flexibility and guidance - often as their earning capacity increases and family wealth is transferred. They’re looking for a broker who can understand their full financial picture and clearly explain the trade-offs - whether that’s longer loan terms, bridging finance or interest-only options.

Australia’s almost seven million millennials are moving into their 40s over the next decade - often the peak years for upgrading, refinancing and growing their families. Otherwise known as their ‘forever home’ decade.

Millennials hitting the “forever home” decade

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Millennials hitting the “forever home” decade

Opportunity

You don’t need to be based in a growth corridor to benefit from it. With a strong digital presence and customer experience, brokers can support clients across these areas - and diversify their advice beyond residential lending into commercial finance.

As new commercial and industrial projects take shape, we’re seeing business activity spread into outer-metro and fringe growth corridors across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

These fast‑growing areas — shaped by infrastructure investment, transport links, precinct renewals and new employment zones — are creating the conditions for more start‑ups, expanding tradie businesses, professional services firms and early‑stage commercial ventures.

Commercial heartlands on the rise

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Commercial heartlands on the rise

Opportunity

We’re seeing more Australians with solid earning capacity, whose incomes reflect how many people actually work today - seasonally, on contracts or through business ownership. Tradies, for instance, may need equipment or vehicle finance, cashflow support, or commercial property as they expand. Professionals may have multiple income streams, consulting work or early‑stage business ventures. Together, they represent a growing class of borrowers who need brokers and lenders who can interpret and articulate complex income stories — not just process documents.

Australia’s skills base is shifting fast — and with that, so is the profile of future borrowers. Over the past 25 years, the tradie workforce has grown by 50%, while professional roles, such as health practitioners, IT consultants and engineers, have surged by 143%. These groups now represent some of the fastest‑growing earners in the country and, increasingly, they don’t fit traditional PAYG molds.

Growth in borrowers with non-traditional income profiles

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Growth in borrowers earning outside traditional PAYG

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ORDE FINANCIAL logo, blue and white text on green background.

ORDE Financial believes the future isn’t something that just happens, it’s something we build together. Through our partnership with Bernard Salt AM and The Demographics Group, our ‘Outlook Australia’ research gives brokers a forward and practical view of the demographic, social and economic forces reshaping our nation.

Fast growing suburbs. A rising number of business owners and tradies. A workforce shifting towards higher-skilled work. Strong commercial centres. New migrant communities. A generation entering its forever-home years. Together, they’re shaping Australia’s future and the opportunities ahead for brokers.

With data-driven insight, lending expertise and a shared purpose, we’re here to help brokers identify opportunities, plan confidently and deliver better outcomes for their clients – supporting them to grow their businesses, while building futures for people, businesses and communities.

In a world of uncertainty, understanding how Australia is changing matters more than ever.

Key trends shaping the next decade of lending

DISCOVER

Millennials on the move, and into their 40s

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Discover more

Diversity shaping Australia’s growth

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Discover more

The resilience of the commercial heartland

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The great skills shift

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$72,592

14,545,000

Australian Total/Average

$33,800

1,998,000

Skill level 5

(Kitchenhand, Cleaner, 
Sales Assistant)

$57,200

3,688,000

Skill level 4

(Waiter, Receptionist, 
Office Assistants)

$67,600

1,913,000

Skill level 3

(Aged care worker, 
electrician, truck driver)

$81,884

1,658,000

Skill level 2

(Technicians, Dental Assistants, Paralegal)

$100,449

5,286,000

Skill level 1

(Doctor, engineer, teacher)

Median
income

Number 
of workers

Workforce by skill level from 1995 to 2025; Source: ABS Labour Force & Employee (Fulltime) Median Personal Income August 2024.

The workforce is skewing towards skilled & better paid work
Workforce by skill level from 1995 to 2025

The workforce is skewing towards skilled & better paid work
Workforce by skill level from 1995 to 2025

Australia’s workforce is changing - with more professionals, tradies, and skilled workers shaping how people earn, build businesses and plan their futures.

For brokers, this skills shift is driving demand for flexible lending and creating new opportunities for those who understand how modern employment really works.

The great skills shift

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Value of buildings approved by building type (a); Source: ABS Building Approvals, Australia June 2025.

Population growth goes hand in hand with building activity

Population growth goes hand in hand with building activity

Investment across Australia’s commercial heartlands remains strong, underpinning business confidence, job creation and the growth of new precincts and communities.

For brokers, these centres continue to offer new and consistent opportunities to support businesses as they expand, invest and evolve.

The resilience of the commercial heartland

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Components of population change between 1982 and 2071; Source: ABS National State and Territory Population & Population Projections, 2022 (latest, updated 2027).

Components of population change between 1982 and 2071

The last decade & the decade to come could be “our best years”

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1 in 5 operates as a business owner-manager

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13% of the Australian workforce are tradies (ABS)

Australia's population is becoming more diverse as natural population growth slows and migration plays a larger role in sustaining growth. New communities are forming across high-growth suburbs and regions, driving demand for homes, businesses and local services.

For brokers, this reinforces the role of trusted partnerships – helping your clients navigate unfamiliar systems and understanding their increasingly complex lending needs as they build their futures.

Diversity shaping Australia’s growth

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Net annual change in Australia’s projected population by age 2026-2036; Source: ABS Population Projections.

As Millennials push into middle age, they will want a ‘forever home’

As Millennials push into middle age, they will want a ‘forever home’

Around seven million millennials are moving into their 40s over the next decade - a life stage often focused on family, space and finding a ‘forever home’. Alongside rising incomes, an intergenerational wealth transfer is lifting their lending capacities.

For brokers, this represents one of the defining opportunities for the decade ahead.

Millennials on the move, and into their 40s

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See the borrower base grow as multicultural communities settle and thrive

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Accelerate demand for long-term family and ‘forever homes’

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Fuel small business growth and commercial investment

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Expand higher-income and non-traditional earning pathways

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These trends are likely to…

Components of population change between 1982 and 2071; Source: ABS National State and Territory Population & Population Projections, 2022 (latest, updated 2027).

Components of population change between 1982 and 2071

The last decade & the decade to come could be “our best years”

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Commercial properties for bigger cities and new communities

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Services (e.g. care, education)

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Infrastructure

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Housing

Short term these trends are likely to translate into strong demand for:

The global context

With continued population growth for decades to come, Australia could well prosper due to its role as a producer and exporter of food, energy, resources (including rare earths), commodities and also via the delivery of services like education and tourism.

With natural population growth slowing, longer-term trends and business opportunities are expected to drive skilled migration to Australia - sustaining population growth over the decade ahead.

Demographic outlook for Australia 2026-2036

Download the full report

Download the report

Download the report

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Investing in smart tech tools

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More

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Cultural diversity shaping new borrower needs

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More

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Millennials hitting the “forever home” decade

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More

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Commercial heartlands on the rise

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More

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Growth in borrowers earning outside traditional PAYG

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More

Opportunities for brokers

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“Our attitude was: listen to what brokers want, understand what brokers want, and then build ORDE out to give them what they want”

Paul Wells, ORDE CEO

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No clawbacks

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One application

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One lending team

Flexible lending solutions

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Fast turnarounds, averaging 2 day SLAs

We’re built for broker because we understand the importance of

How ORDE can help

When we created ORDE in 2020, we wanted to give brokers something different.

We understand that your key priority is helping your clients be successful.

Supporting your clients

“We built ORDE by listening to brokers - understanding what they need, then designing our products, processes and technology to deliver it.”
Paul Wells, CEO, ORDE Financial

About the research

‘Outlook Australia’ combines multiple data sources - including ABS, Census and Labour Force data, building approvals, commercial investment trends and population predictions - into one clear view of Australia’s outlook.

Our ‘Outlook Australia’ research brings together deep demographic insight, economic analysis and statistical data to give brokers a clearer view of how borrowers and markets are likely to change over the next decade - and how to turn that insight into practical lending solutions.

ORDE and The Demographics Group partnership

Comprehensive modelling
of economic impacts

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Qualitative consultation

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A bespoke survey of more than xx consumers

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A deep demographic analysis

About the research

Simon Kuestenmacher

Co-Founder & Director

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Bernard Salt AM

Founder & Director

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Bernard Salt AM is one of Australia’s most respected demographers, social commentators and futurists. His past research still influences national conversations, and his approach to data is rigorous, layered and built to inform real decisions.

He tells the story in a way that sticks: insightful, energising and designed to give you the clarity and confidence to start your year strong.

This time, he’s turning his focus to what brokers need to know.

Meet the experts

Get in touch and we will help you grow your business and support your clients using insights shaped by the next decade of lending.

Are you a broker who wants to learn more?

Contact

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