North east HR managersí salaries increase by an average of 12%

Thorpe Molloy Recruitment highlights that increases in HR managersí salaries in the north east have surpassed the national average. According to the 2007 National Management Salary Survey the national average salary increase in the HR sector was 5.9%. Research carried out by Thorpe Molloy indicates that in 2005/2006 the average HR managerís salary in the north east was 37,500. This has now risen to 41,800; an increase of almost 12% in one year.

ìThe average percentage salary increase for HR manager positions in the north east has far outstripped the national average,î says Claire Hedley, Senior Consultant.

She emphasises that the competitive market place in the north east has played a major role in driving HR salaries up. ìCompanies across the north east are competing with oil and gas firms to recruit candidates. The high oil price means that salaries within the oil and gas sector remain elevated and demand for qualified personnel is constant.

ìAs such, employers in other sectors have found that in order to secure their preferred candidates it has been necessary to review and augment the remuneration packages that are offered to prospective employees.î

Claire continues, ìIn our experience firms from sectors, including construction and professional services, have had to review and in some cases revise their salary structures in order to ensure that their offers were consistent with those from the oil and gas industry; thus allowing them to compete on the same playing field.

ìSome professional services companies have had to radically improve the offers that they were making to HR managers in order to be sure of securing the best person for their vacancy. One such situation saw the salary for an HR managerís role increase from 30,000 to 50,000.î

Claire adds, ìWe have also seen a sharp increase in the level of salary that is being offered by the construction industry for an HR manager role. This has risen from between 30,000 and 35,000 to in excess of 45,000 plus benefits.î

ìThe benefits packages which are offered with the HR manager positions that we handle are becoming increasingly generous,î continues Claire. ìThey tend to include a car allowance, both dental and medical cover, enhanced pension options and guaranteed bonuses of up to 10% of salary.î

ìAs long as the oil and gas industry remains buoyant companies in other sectors will have to ensure that the remuneration packages they offer are of a similar level or risk losing the pick of the candidates.î

Thorpe Molloy Recruitment is a market leader in Scotland in the provision of recruitment services in accountancy, office personnel and human resources. More about Thorpe Molloy Recruitment can be found at www.thorpemolloy.com or telephone 01224 658865.