Workers wage increases outstripping the bosses

Workers wages went up faster than their bosses last year according to the National Employers Wage and Salary survey just released, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association.

“Benchmark positions such as senior management and second tier managers salaries increased by 4.5% and 4.2% respectively,” Mr Lowe said.

“But wages for skilled and semi-skilled people went up 6% with unskilled people getting wage increases on average 6.2% more than last year.

“Positions such as accounting clerical staff went up 7%.

“The average pay rise at the annual review remained unchanged from last year at 4.5%.”

“The range of pay changes was much smaller. Fewer rates decreased and the list of positions with very large increases was also shorter.

“The average number of unused holidays has almost tripled in the last 3 years to 18.58 days. Clearly both employers and employees would benefit from being able to cash-up the 4th weeks holiday.

“Employees receiving more than 4 weeks holiday remained stable at 12%.

“The ongoing slide in the number of employees involved in workplace superannuation is being reversed although it is the higher paid positions that have bounced back the most.

“40% of employers have chosen a preferred KiwiSaver fund manager and 22% of employers are exempt from the KiwiSaver automatic enrolment rules.

Notes:

The National Employers Wage and Salary Survey is in its 15th year.

This year 742 company’s participated and provided data on 49,330 employees across 215 different positions in 18 industry sectors.

The survey is conducted by EMA (Northern) on behalf of EMA Central, the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Southland Employers Association.