State of Separation 2026

Separation costs Australian employers $32 billion a year

Faster, structured separation support could save them $1.5 billion a year

We analysed the answers of over 45,000 Australians who used our free separation Q&A between 2020 and October 2026: people in relationship conflict, considering separation, or already separated, mostly aged 25 to 54. Almost half had not yet separated, and most are women. Read alongside ABS, police and Australian workplace research, their answers show which workforces carry the cost of separation, and at which stage.

01

Education, health care and public administration carry most of the cost

02

What separation costs your organisation

Enter your workforce size and industry. The figure covers lost productivity, time off, and staff turnover, for staff going through a separation and staff in relationship distress. It leaves out manager time, workers' compensation claims, and health costs, so the real figure is likely higher.

Calculate for your organisation

90employees in relationship distress or going through a separation at any one time
$2.1mdirect cost a year

Interested in information on other sectors? Contact us

03

Structured support could save employers $1.5 billion a year

Calculate your saving

$104ksaved a year if separating staff reach settlement at the supported pace
2,300fewer days spent going through a separation each year

Want to see what support would save your organisation? Talk to us

04

Recorded depression is highest before separation begins

05

More separated couples are still living under one roof

06

As fewer people leave the shared home, more of those who leave need family violence advice

07

Women are worse off on almost every measure

08

Separation help is reaching Western Sydney least

09

What official data does not see

10

Why employers are acting now

Talk to us

Bring separation support to your organisation

Tell us what you are looking for and The Separation Guide team will be in touch. We work with employers, insurers, EAP providers, and government.

About The Separation Guide

A better starting point for separation

Method and sources

How we calculated these figures

Glossary

What the terms in this report mean