Just 3% of Young Workers See Payroll as a Strategic Business Function, Creating Looming Skills Gap
London, 20th April 2026; Cezanne HR, one of the fastest-growing providers of HR software and payroll solutions for UK and global businesses, today reveals new research showing that just 3% of young people view payroll as a strategic business function – raising serious questions about how organisations will continue to pay their workforce as the industry struggles to attract new talent.
The research, conducted among workers aged 18-24, shows that payroll is being increasingly overlooked as a career choice by younger workers, despite being one of the most critical operations within any organisation. Without payroll, employees simply would not get paid.
The findings also reveal that payroll is widely misunderstood as a business function by the younger generation. Nearly six in ten (59%) young workers associate payroll primarily with accuracy and compliance, suggesting the role is viewed as administrative rather than people-focused, impactful, strategic or business-critical.
This perception is having a direct impact on career choices among those entering the workplace. When presented with graduate roles offering equal pay and benefits, just 13% of respondents said they would choose a payroll role, making it the least attractive option among those offered – behind technology (27%), social media (26%) and marketing (20%) roles.
A Real Perception Problem…
Lisa Hopper, Payroll and Services Director at Cezanne said, “Payroll is one of those functions that is only truly noticed when something goes wrong, but when it works well it underpins trust, engagement and financial wellbeing across the entire workforce. The fact that so few young workers see it as a strategic business function shows we have a real perception problem to address.”
She added, “Modern payroll is about far more than compliance. It sits at the intersection of technology, data, employee experience and business decision-making. If we want the next generation to consider payroll as a viable and rewarding career, we need to do a better job of showing the real impact the role has on people’s lives.”
The reports findings were echoed by Lora Murphy, editor and presenter of the CIPP podcast Behind the Button: “The CIPP welcomes Cezanne’s timely report on current perceptions of payroll. We agree that the industry is at a turning point and believe it’s essential to use our collective voice to deliver clear, consistent messaging about the strategic importance of payroll and the wide range of rewarding career opportunities available within the sector.”
… But Not a Talent Shortage… Yet
The findings suggest the issue is one of awareness rather than outright rejection. 41% of respondents said they would be interested in learning more about a career in payroll, while a further 24% said they felt neutral towards it.
With younger workers prioritising impact (61%), creativity (55%) and stability (49%) in their careers, the research raises a warning that unless payroll is repositioned as a people-focused, high-impact and strategically important profession, the industry risks a widening skills gap in the years ahead.
Hopper concluded, “If fewer young people are willing to pursue a career in payroll, the question becomes who will ensure the future workforce gets paid. Payroll is one of the most business-critical functions in any organisation, and we must do more to highlight the breadth, impact and long-term opportunities the profession offers.”
As organisations continue to digitise HR and payroll processes and place greater emphasis on employee wellbeing, Cezanne HR is calling on employers, educators and the wider industry to rethink how payroll careers are presented, supported and developed – before a lack of talent becomes a critical business risk.
To discover the full findings, download the report today.
