Gartner Survey Reveals Poor Manager Quality the Top Driver of Employee Turnover in Australia

Poor manager quality, lack of respect and ineffective people management are the top three reasons Australian employees are leaving their organizations, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. a business and technology insights company. 

The Gartner Global Talent Monitor survey was conducted in Q2 2025 with more than 6,000 employees in 40 countries, including 855 in Australia. 

“Many managers in Australia today are experiencing high levels of burnout, often due to overwhelming administrative burdens and lack of support,” said Jonathan Tabah, Director, Advisory in the Gartner HR practice. “When managers struggle, their teams suffer – leading to higher attrition and diminished organizational performance. AI is emerging as a critical lever to address these challenges and empower managers to become more effective human leaders.”

Gartner analysts are discussing the latest AI trends shaping HR and the workforce at Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo taking place in Sydney today.

AI-Driven Management
Forty-six percent of managers reported higher productivity when using AI tools, according to a May 2025 Gartner survey of 3,002 managers. Key benefits of AI-driven management include:

• Reduced administrative workload.

• More time for coaching and team development.

• Personalized employee support through AI-powered analytics identifying skill gaps and recommending targeted learning.

“AI can unlock higher levels of manager effectiveness, but few managers will achieve these benefits without the right guidance from HR on how and when to use AI,” said Tabah. “Unfortunately, many organizations in Australia aren’t supporting managers’ AI adoption, missing a significant opportunity to improve employee and organizational performance.”

An August 2025 Gartner survey of 114 HR leaders revealed skepticism around the impact of AI:

• Only 38% expect AI to improve manager effectiveness. 

• Just 14% support managers in using AI in daily tasks. 

• Only 8% believe managers have the skills to use AI today.

“To improve manager performance through AI, HR must support manager specific workflows and recognize they aren’t a homogenous group,” said Tabah. “Tailored training must be provided that focuses on distinct AI readiness levels and use cases specific to managers.”

Manager Role Transformation
Gartner research indicates that AI is not ready to fully automate the manager role due to the human needs of employees that AI cannot address. HR’s focus today should be on augmenting manager effectiveness by increasing the value of their work, instead of seeking efficiencies by increasing their span of control. 

“AI isn’t about replacing managers – it’s about transforming their role for greater impact,” said Tabah. “By automating routine tasks and guiding managers to leverage AI in ways specific to their workflows, HR leaders can help them deliver impact where it matters most: their people. This enables Australian organizations to boost employee engagement, strengthen performance and build an AI-ready workforce.”

Gartner recommends HR leaders redesign the manager role, develop targeted training programs and update talent management processes to encourage the adoption of AI in meaningful ways. 

Gartner clients can learn more in CHRO Guide for Using AI to Increase Manager Effectiveness.

About Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo
Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo is where CHROs and their leadership teams gather each year to reimagine their strategies through the lens of Gartner’s research-driven insights and expert advice on leadership and learning, employee experience, culture and change, talent acquisition and workforce planning, and HR technology. Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo is taking place this week in Sydney, November 17-18. Follow news and updates on LinkedIn using #GartnerHR.