20th October 2011

Robert Half Releases 2012 Salary Guides

Robert HalfThe newly released 2012 Salary Guides from Robert Half International show Canadian starting salaries will increase an average of 3.2 per cent next year. Technology positions are projected to see the largest gains among all fields researched, with an anticipated 4.4 per cent increase in base compensation. Accounting and finance professionals can expect starting salaries to rise an average of 2.5 per cent, according to the research.

“The hiring environment is becoming more competitive for professionals with specialized expertise in areas such as technology and accounting. As a result, some businesses are looking to raise starting salaries to attract the most in-demand professionals,” said Lara Dodo, a Canadian regional vice-president of Robert Half. “In particular, companies seek technology and accounting professionals who can assist with increasing efficiencies and improving profitability in the next year.”

Following is an overview of hiring trends in the fields covered by the Salary Guides:

Accounting and Finance:  The 2012 research forecasts an average starting salary increase of 2.5 per cent for accounting and finance positions. Companies are hiring professionals who can identify and support growth opportunities, such as financial analysts and business systems analysts. Tax accountants who can help firms navigate complex corporate tax laws also are in demand.

Technology:  Overall, base compensation for information technology (IT) professionals is expected to increase 4.4 per cent in the coming year. Mobile applications developers are in particularly strong demand, given the proliferation of mobile devices. Business intelligence analysts are also in demand, as firms look to perform data analysis that can help them move their business in the right direction.

Creative and Marketing: Professionals in creative fields can expect average starting salary gains of 4 per cent(1) in 2012, the research suggests. Those with interactive skills, such as user experience (UX) designers, are especially sought after as firms look to improve their web presence and transition many of their marketing programs online.

Legal:  In the legal field, starting salaries are anticipated to rise 1.7 per cent, on average, in the coming year. Lawyers with two to four years of experience in high-growth practice areas — such as litigation, intellectual property and corporate law — are seeing the strongest demand, research shows.

Administrative and Office Support:  Overall starting salaries for administrative professionals are expected to rise 4.3 per cent in 2012. Companies that had streamlined support staff are now adding experienced executive and administrative assistants, customer service representatives, and HR assistants who can help to increase efficiencies, support key company projects and provide excellent customer service. Growth in the healthcare and manufacturing industries also is fueling demand for administrative personnel with experience in these sectors.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 20th, 2011 at 9:02 am and is filed under Business News, National News, Research Studies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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