A growing number of employers are expecting to increase permanent staffing levels in the coming year, but they are not expecting to pay much more for their staff, a survey by Hays recruiting group indicates.
The 2011 Hays Salary Guide, published today, found 45 per cent of organisations surveyed expectedpermanent staffing levels to increase in the next year, while 9 percent expected lower levels.
A rise in business activity was expected by 67 per cent.
Despite that, employers were yet to make widespread salary increases, with 57 per cent intending rises of less than 3 per cent at their next review, and 14 per cent to offer no increase.
"Such low intentions are at odds with candidates' own rising expectations - particularly those candidates in demand - and so we expect the gap between salary expectations to widen even further," Jason Walker, managing director of Hays in New Zealand, said.
Hays suggested a "perfect storm" of high demand but short supply was being created in the recruitment market in the year ahead.
