WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey Highlights Global Data: United States, Spain, Japan Are Bottom of the List for Salary Budget Increases

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Jul 10, 2012, 10:00 ET

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Projected salary increases for 2013 are lowest in the United States, Spain and Japan and highest in India, China and Brazil, according to the 39th annual "WorldatWork 2012-2013 Salary Budget Survey" (see chart below).

	Actual 2012	Projected 2013

India	11.2%	10.7%
China	9.1%	8.8%
Brazil	7.7%	7.2%
United States	2.8%	3.0%
Spain	2.8%	2.9%
Japan	2.6%	2.7%

The "WorldatWork 2012-2013 Salary Budget Survey" is the largest survey of its kind with 4,299 responses from 13 countries representing more than 17 million employees.

"Salary increases in growth markets such as India, China and Brazil remain strong again this year," said Adam Sorensen, GRP, global practice leader for WorldatWork. "Although more and more companies are implementing integrated total rewards programs to attract and retain employees, cash remains king among employees. The war for talent — particularly for senior leaders and employees with specialized skills — rages on. Organizations must continue to be competitive in cash compensation even as they expand the range of other rewards in order to attract, motivate and retain their critical talent."

Survey respondents from Singapore, Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., France and Netherlands reported planned pay increases ranging from 3.0 percent to 4.3 percent.

Japan, at 2.6 percent, had the survey's lowest average 2012 actual total salary budget increase of the countries WorldatWork surveyed, and its 2013 projections are a tenth of a percentage point higher (at 2.7 percent).

"Salary budget increases in the United States and Canada, while on the low end of the global scale, have not declined despite continued mixed economic signals," said Kerry Chou, CCP, compensation practice leader, WorldatWork. "However, it is apparent that employers still view the near term with uncertainty, and as such are not making significant changes to their salary budgets."

About the Survey:

For the first time in 39 years, WorldatWork gathered salary budget increase data for 11 countries in addition to the United States and Canada. Previously, WorldatWork collected, analyzed and reported salary budget increase data for the United States and Canada, and addressed the demand for international data by republishing Strategic Rewards Group's merit and inflation survey within the WorldatWork salary budget survey.

WorldatWork collected survey data in April 2012. Survey respondents are WorldatWork members employed in the HR, compensation and benefits departments of mostly large U.S. companies. All data include 0 percent responses. The full report will be available in early August at www.worldatwork.org/salarybudgetsurvey. An educational Webinar will be held on Aug. 22 for HR and compensation professionals (the Webinar is free for this year's survey participants and subscribers).

Journalists and reporters interested in a copy of the high-level report may contact Marcia Rhodes at [email protected] or 480-304-6885. All others, please contact Customer Services at 877-951-9191.

About WorldatWork®:
The Total Rewards Association

WorldatWork (www.worldatwork.org) is a not-for-profit organization providing education, conferences and research focused on global human resources issues including compensation, benefits, work-life and integrated total rewards to attract, motivate and retain a talented workforce. Founded in 1955, WorldatWork has nearly 30,000 members in more than 100 countries. Its affiliate organization, WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals®, is the certifying body for the prestigious Certified Compensation Professional® (CCP®), Certified Benefits Professional® (CBP), Global Remuneration Professional (GRP®), Work-Life Certified Professional™ (WLCP®), Certified Sales Compensation Professional™ (CSCP™), and Certified Executive Compensation Professional™ (CECP™). WorldatWork has offices in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Washington, D.C.

The WorldatWork group of registered marks includes: Alliance for Work-Life Progress® or AWLP®, workspan®, WorldatWork® Journal and Compensation Conundrum®.

Contact: Marcia G. Rhodes, (480) 304-6885, [email protected]

SOURCE WorldatWork