On average, Canadian private-sector employers are implementing salary increases of 3.3 per cent this year, according to a survey of employers by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.
The survey found almost five per cent of all employers introduced salary freezes for 2003, more than was expected when the question was asked last fall, but also less than the seven per cent that put in wage freezes in 2002.
“In spite of the threat of war and the impact it is having on the economy, Canadian employers continue to be cautiously optimistic in terms of pay increases for 2003,” said Merrilyn Earl, manager of operations of Mercer’s global information services, which surveyed more than 300 Canadian organizations.
Oil, pharmaceutical and software firms reported above average increases.
Almost one-quarter of organizations expect to add more staff in the first half of the year and just nine per cent said they expect reduce head count.
The survey found almost five per cent of all employers introduced salary freezes for 2003, more than was expected when the question was asked last fall, but also less than the seven per cent that put in wage freezes in 2002.
“In spite of the threat of war and the impact it is having on the economy, Canadian employers continue to be cautiously optimistic in terms of pay increases for 2003,” said Merrilyn Earl, manager of operations of Mercer’s global information services, which surveyed more than 300 Canadian organizations.
Oil, pharmaceutical and software firms reported above average increases.
Almost one-quarter of organizations expect to add more staff in the first half of the year and just nine per cent said they expect reduce head count.
