HR PROFESSIONALS can expect wage increases of five per cent this year, as companies increasingly recognise the importance of HR in attracting and retaining talent
HR PROFESSIONALS can expect wage increases of five per cent this year, as companies increasingly recognise the importance of HR in attracting and retaining talent.
The surge in recruitment activity in 2005 is expected to continue throughout 2006, with employers turning to human resources to address skills shortages across all white-collar sectors, according to Graham Hollebon, national director of Michael Page Human Resources.
“Companies recognise the importance of HR when it comes to attracting and retaining talent and, in stark contrast to the downsizing that occurred in the sector a few years ago, they are re-investing in their human resources functions,” he said.
“We’re also seeing a shift from talent acquisition to staff retention and development, placing more pressure on human resources to perform as a strategic partner.
“Employers want to retain and develop their existing staff, which is driving demand for HR professionals in areas such as remuneration and benefits, learning and development, and talent management.”
Commenting on a Michael Page International salary survey, Hollebon said jobseekers with highly sought after specialist skills or industry experience are being offered larger financial incentives.
Wage increases of around 10 per cent are expected for more sought after professionals such as mid-level generalists and remuneration and benefits specialists, he said.
A reduction in graduate intake five years ago has created a shortage of mid-level professionals, leaving a major talent gap between senior management and graduate levels, he said.
Organisational development is another area of increasing activity as employers strive to maximise the productivity of their existing workforce, according to the survey.
A Hays Human Resources salary survey also pointed to similar trends for HR professionals, with HR specialists experiencing one of the biggest salary increases across all industries, at 13.2 per cent.
“The last 12 months was characterised by one of the most sustained periods of low unemployment and jobs growth in modern times, the well publicised joining of Generation Y candidates to the workforce and the fierce global resources boom,” said Grahame Doyle, senior regional director of Hays Human Resources.
“So it is no surprise it was a year with an unprecedented focus on the candidate.”
Geographically, the typical salaries for human resources specialists in Sydney rose 9.2 per cent and in Melbourne 8.3 per cent. Brisbane was the biggest salary winner, rising 18.9 per cent, followed by Auckland (18.3 per cent), Adelaide (15.4 per cent) and Perth (11.6 per cent).
Leading the salary increases were in-house recruitment consultants and managers, with average increases of 26 per cent and 20.2 per cent respectively.
Learning and development consultants/officers and managers also received strong increases, with average increases of 20.9 per cent and 14.7 per cent respectively.
“Tertiary qualifications are increasingly important due to the number of candidates seeking entry-level HR roles,” said Doyle.
“Experience in remuneration and benefits is well regarded as HR executives with a high level of commercial acumen are sought.
