2010 salary forecasts: employers remain cautious - Findings of a study
commissioned by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés

MONTREAL , Oct. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Employers remain cautious for 2010. They are prepared to agree to an average salary increase of 2.57% in Québec and 2.67% across Canada , marking a record ten-year low, even though these projections remain above the inflation rate. These are the findings of a survey commissioned for the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés released this morning at the Ordre's annual meeting on compensation, Rendez-vous de la rémunération.

This major study presents the results of a survey conducted among 2,507 organizations across Canada by eight of the country's most prestigious compensation consulting firms: Aon Conseil, Hay Group, Hewitt Associates in collaboration with Normandin Beaudry, Mercer, HR Consulting, Morneau Sobeco, Saucier Consulting, Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt.

Employers' 2010 forecasts for Quebec

The average salary increase in Quebec is expected to amount to 2.57%. "This figure is close to the 2.5% anticipated by employees in a CROP survey also released today, indicating that employers and employees appear to be on the same page," commented Florent Francoeur, CHRP, Ordre president and CEO.

A first this year - salaries of senior executives, managers and professionals and technical and administrative employees are expected to increase at the same rate, very likely because of the current media focus on senior management's compensation.

All signs indicate that public service employees will benefit most in 2010, with a projected average increase of 3.7%. At the other end of the scale, the workforce in the information and culture industries weighs in last with an average of only 1.3%.

Employers' 2010 forecasts for Canada as a whole

According to the survey, at 2.67%, the average increase for Canada as a whole should be slightly higher than that projected for Quebec . Employees in the education sector are expected to top the list with an average of 3.32%.

Canada-wide, the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industries will see the lowest increase at an average 1.74%. Senior management in these industries will be most affected by this trend, with an average increase of 1.53% that places them well at the bottom of the ladder.

Finally, while cost control remains a major concern for employers in the coming year, they also plan to work on other total compensation issues such as their performance management and reward strategy, salary structure, job evaluation systems and pay equity.

"The organizations that will come out on top in the present environment are the ones that will be able to maintain a balance between compensation practices, employee needs and business objectives. Meeting this challenge will call for considerable expertise and skill, as they can't afford to lose their talent," concluded Florent Francoeur.

To learn more

A summary table of the survey on employers' 2010 salary forecasts is presented in the appendix.

For the complete survey results, please contact Caroline Soulas

About the Ordre

The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés is the primary reference organization in its field in Quebec . It has a membership of close to 9,500 professionals, candidates and students, including 5,000 CHRPs and 2,500 CIRCs. It is the only organization devoted to the protection of the public authorized by the Professional Code to confer these professional designations.

Active in all sectors, CHRPs and CIRCS contribute to the development and maintenance of a healthy working atmosphere and a safe, efficient organizational environment that respects the uniqueness of each and every employee. They also represent employers and employees in various areas of HR management, from industrial relations, to staffing, training, occupational health and safety, organizational development and compensation.

    
                                Summary table

                                   Quebec

             Expected salary increases for 2010 (including zeros)
                 according to surveys by participating firms

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Senior executives   Managers and   Administrative and
                                          professionals  technical employees
                       ------------------------------------------------------
                             Average         Average            Average
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Agriculture,
     forestry, fishing
     and hunting               2.8%            2.6%               2.6%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Mining and oil and
     gas extraction            2.8%            2.8%               2.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Utilities                  4.1%            3.6%               3.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Construction                n/a             n/a                n/a
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Manufacturing             2.53%           2.43%              2.47%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Wholesale trade            2.4%            2.5%              2.17%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Retail trade              2.85%            2.8%              2.63%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Transportation and
     warehousing               2.0%            2.0%               2.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Information and
     culture industries        1.3%            1.3%               1.3%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finance and insurance     2.83%           2.83%              2.86%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real estate                2.9%            2.9%              2.87%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Professional,
     scientific and
     technical services        2.9%            2.6%              2.03%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Management of
     companies and
     enterprises                n/a             n/a                n/a
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Administration and
     support, waste
     management and
     remediation                n/a             n/a                n/a
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Educational services       3.0%            3.0%               2.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Health care and
     social assistance         2.0%            2.0%               2.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Recreation                1.8.%            1.8%               1.8%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Accommodation and
     food services              n/a             n/a                n/a
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Other services             2.7%            3.0%               3.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Public
     administration           3.25%            3.3%              2.85%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                Summary table

                                   Canada

             Expected salary increases for 2010 (including zeros)
                 according to surveys by participating firms

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Senior executives   Managers and   Administrative and
                                          professionals  technical employees
                       ------------------------------------------------------
                             Average         Average             Average
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Agriculture,
     forestry, fishing
     and hunting              1.53%           1.87%               1.83%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Mining and oil and
     gas extraction           3.08%           3.24%               3.14%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Utilities                  3.2%            3.2%                3.2%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Construction              2.55%           2.65%               2.65%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Manufacturing             2.53%           2.55%               2.49%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Wholesale trade            2.7%           2.67%               2.57%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Retail trade              2.52%           2.48%               2.44%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Transportation and
     warehousing              1.95%           2.05%               2.15%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Information and
     culture industries        1.9%            1.8%               1.95%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Finance and insurance     2.63%           2.75%               2.75%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Real estate                2.5%            3.0%               3.05%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Professional,
     scientific and
     technical services       2.65%           2.73%               2.65%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Management of
     companies and
     enterprises                n/a             n/a                 n/a
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Administration and
     support, waste
     management and
     remediation                n/a             n/a                 n/a
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Educational services       3.25%           3.3%                3.4%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Health care and
     social assistance          3.2%           3.2%                3.2%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Recreation                  3.0%           3.0%                3.0%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Accommodation and
     food services             2.65%           2.4%               2.25%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Other services             2.73%           2.7%               2.63%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Public administration      3.28%          2.88%               2.73%
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

For further information: Caroline Soulas, Communications coordinator, [phone], ext. 224, Cell phone: [phone], [email protected]