This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
IF you think you will get a big pay rise next year, you will be disappointed to find out that a majority property professionals will only get a rise of sub 3%, according to a survey of three thousand employers conducted by recruitment experts Hays Property.
The annual Hays Salary Guide of 2,950 organisations, representing 3,021,984 employees, found in the last 12 months, 15% of Australians asked for a pay rise but were declined – a further 17% asked for a pay rise and were successful. The success of the latter perhaps explains why 45% say they intend to ask for a pay rise in their next review. A further 24% are as yet unsure.
Looking ahead, employers are optimistic but cautious and this is reflected in the findings that 54% of property, construction & engineering employers will give their staff a pay rise of up to 3% in their next review and 12% will not increase salaries at all.
Some professionals, 25% of employers intend to award a salary increase of between 3% and 6%. Hays found only 9% of employers will increase salaries at the higher level of more than 6%.
“Across the country, business and consumer sentiment has increased and we expect to see stronger levels of recruitment as a result, although salaries remain stable,” Hays Property regional director Claire Forsyth said.
Forsyth said New South Wales and Victoria have seen strong activity from overseas developers in residential and hotel developments leading to staffing demand.
“Continued government investment in infrastructure will afford government agencies and project management consultancies a healthy pipeline of work in Victoria too,”
In Canberra, high-rise apartments and mixed use commercial property is creating demand for relevant staff, while commercial construction in Tasmania is at an all-time high, also leading to increased staffing demand.
In Queensland, Commercial Leasing Consultants and Property Managers remain in great demand, while in Adelaide the flow of foreign investment and surge in medium to high density residential development is adding to vacancy activity.
Western Australia’s oversupply of office space has resulted in increased demand for effective negotiators, and Residential Property Managers are still needed.
Meanwhile business activity increased for 70% of employers in the past 12 months, while three quarters (75%) expect it to increase in the next 12 months, and 36% foresee a strengthening economy in the coming six to 12 months.
The survey also found 45% expect to increase permanent staff levels, far exceeding the 11% who say they’ll decrease. Meanwhile 23% expect to increase their use of temporary and contract staff, also exceeding the 9% who anticipate decreasing in this area.
Meanwhile Hays found 23% now employ temporary and contract staff on a regular ongoing basis and another 44% employ them for special projects or workloads.
Forsyth said 32% of employers say staff turnover has increased in their organisation and 65% of employers, compared to 60% last year, are worried that skill shortages will impact the effective operation of their organisation or department in a significant (23%) or minor (42%) way.
Australian Property Journal
