The Payroll Pathway does the same. It takes something overlooked and makes it visible. Once people see how it works and are given space to explore, they respond. What looks like disinterest is usually just unfamiliarity. That’s why early exposure matters. Creating entry points is only half the story. The other half is how the industry responds. If we want payroll to be seen as a career of choice, we need more than awareness, we need action. We need to take people on and help them grow. Employers: This is Your Opportunity The next generation is starting to see payroll differently. Through this initiative, students and new entrants are discovering payroll early, with structure, support, and a real sense of what the profession can offer. For many, it’s the first time they’ve been shown that payroll isn’t just
admin, it’s a career worth choosing. More people will soon be looking to enter the industry, curious, informed, and ready to learn. What’s needed now is support. Employers open to entry-level talent. Leaders willing to shape what comes next. A role, a mentor, a seat at the table. Most careers have clear entry points. Payroll has often been something people stumbled into. The Payroll Pathway changes that by building the track that should have existed all along. And we’re not stopping here. We’re developing training modules for other countries, expanding the Pathway globally. Payroll may look different around the world, but the need for structure, visibility, and early support is the same. Not “I fell into it.” But “I chose this.” And that changes everything.
Payroll is often seen as transactional. But it requires critical thinking, attention to detail, legislative knowledge, and a high level of responsibility. It affects every employee, every pay cycle, yet the people behind it often go unseen. I think of payroll like Wi-Fi: invisible when it’s working, impossible to ignore when it’s not. And because it’s rarely explained or explored, few understand how it works, let alone see themselves doing it. What stood out most during the work placement was student engagement. Many said they had never realised how connected payroll was to their lives. Nearly half said they were seriously considering it as a career. Some have already followed up to ask how to get started. Real change starts with a shift in perception. The iPhone didn’t just add features; it changed how people saw phones. What once seemed complicated became part of daily life.
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ISSUE 14 GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE
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