Management and Construction Industries Projected to Receive Much Larger Increases
Employees in the Management industry will see merit increases averaging 5.7% and general increases around 4.0%. Exempt workers in the Construction industry are projected to receive average merit increases of 4.7% and general increases of 3.9%. Among other industries expected to give higher-than-average increases is Government, as depicted in the table below, a sample of the Merit and General Increases by Industry Planned for 2009 findings table included in this year’s report. Additional industries surveyed and depicted in the full table include Agriculture, Health, Manufacturing, Other Services, Real Estate, Recreation, Retail/Wholesale, Transportation, and Utilities.
Larger Merit Increases Planned for Western Half of US
The Central/Rocky Mountain/Southwest and Far West regions of the country are slightly above the average, at 4% for exempt employees and 3.8% for nonexempt office employees. Employers in the East Central part of the country are forecasting the lowest merit increases for 2009, with exempt employees projected to receive average increases of 3.6% and nonexempt employees 3.5%.
Employers face numerous challenges in Compensation Planning
According to BLR Compensation expert Catherine Moreton, J.D., economic pressures and rising costs are likely effecting employers’ compensation budgets for 2009. "Employers find themselves in an unusual situation," says Moreton, managing editor of BLR HR and Compensation publications. "The economy is weak and some believe we are in a recession. Unemployment is on the rise. Yet, employers are concerned that they won’t be able to hire and retain employees with the talent and experience they need now that the Baby Boomers are beginning to retire. Add to the mix that employees are struggling with big increases in gas and food prices, and it isn’t surprising that employers have decided to hold salary increase budgets steady for 2009."
