In 2026, strong planners, schedulers, coordinators and supply chain analysts in Sydney have options. They know their skills are in demand, so they’re no longer impressed by title and salary alone. What they really want to know is: “Will I actually be able to do my job properly here?”

That means a clear scope instead of a catch‑all role, realistic targets instead of wishful KPIs, systems and data they can trust, and a genuine voice in decisions rather than being asked to justify them after the fact. When those things are missing, even your best people start quietly looking elsewhere.

And when a good planner walks, you don’t just lose a headcount. You lose the person who can explain why the forecast moved, not just that it did. You lose stability in S&OP and inventory decisions, as calm planning gives way to noisy meetings and short‑term firefighting. You also lose months to rehire and re-onboard that capability, while the rest of the team shoulders more work, more risk, and, in some cases, more doubt about their own future with you.

The true cost isn’t just recruitment fees or time-to-hire. It shows up in eroding confidence in the plan, pressure on frontline teams, and decisions made with patchy insight instead of informed judgment.

So, if you lead a supply chain function, it’s worth asking: “If my best planner resigned tomorrow, would I genuinely be surprised?” If the honest answer is “not really”, the message is already there – in one‑on‑ones where people say they’re “tired but fine”, in engagement scores that are “okay”, and in meetings where planners are talked at, not listened to.

By the time someone hands back their laptop, you’re not getting a new message – you’re getting the final one. The opportunity in this market is to listen earlier: to how your planners, schedulers, coordinators and analysts describe their day, their blockers and their future with you. They do have options in 2026. The real question is whether staying with you still feels like the best one.

Michelle Wood, Supply Chain Recruitment Specialist