A salary forecast issued today by Korn Ferry reveals that, salaries in Singapore are expected to increase by 4.0 percent, up from 3.7 percent last year. Adjusted for an inflation rate of 1.0 percent, real-wage salaries in Singapore are expected to grow by 3.0 percent in 2019, a slight increase from 2.3 percent predicted for 2018.  

Highest real wage growth in Asia

In Asia, salaries are forecast to increase by 5.6 percent, up from 5.4 percent last year. Inflation-adjusted real wage increases are expected to be 2.6 percent, the highest globally, but down from 2.8 percent last year. China’s real-wage forecasted growth for 2019 weakened at 3.2 percent, down from 4.2 percent last year. Japan saw a real-wage prediction of 0.1 percent for 2019 compared to the 2018 prediction of 1.6 percent. While growth in Asia is easing slightly, India, Vietnam and Singapore are an exception to the rule.

Singapore’s service-driven economy remains hungry for highly-skilled workers, keeping the pressure on wages. “We’ve seen changes in the market drive the highest base salary movements in the oil and gas sector (at 4.0 percent), as well as transportation, hi-tech, chemicals and public sector (all at 3.0 percent), while we saw the lowest changes in the industrial goods sector (close to 2.0 percent),” said Mirka Kowalczuk, Head of Pay and Engagement Delivery, APAC, Products Group, Korn Ferry. 

However, the study also reveals that while a staggering 38 percent of organisations in Singapore indicated a scarcity of talent within the engineering function and 29 percent within the information technology function, salary increases for employees within these functions receive a mere 2.8 to 3.4 percent increase, in line with the general market increase instead of an expected salary premium given the lack of talent shortages for these roles.

This year’s study also looked at the correlation between performance ratings of employees and variable bonus pay-outs. While average variable bonus payment trends paid out by organisations across industries in Singapore increased to an average of 2.2 months compared to a slightly lower payout of two months last year, results from the study show that there is little differentiation in terms of actual bonus payouts between an employee who receives an above or below expectation performance rating. 

“The percentage of salary and variable bonus increase or decrease will vary by role, industry, country and region, but one thing is clear, on average, the conventional approach of a one-size-fits-all solution to performance management, still dominates the Singapore general market,” said Farhan Mahmood, Client Director, Singapore, Products Group, Korn Ferry. “In a talent scarce market, finding the right balance of rewards and benefits, workplace environment, flexibility and career development, will increasingly become a key differentiator.” 

Mirka Kowalczuk added, “Compensation programmes need to be regularly reviewed to make sure they align with changing business and market conditions. While inflation indices are a solid benchmark for reviewing market trends in pay, we recommend that companies take a broader perspective by defining and agreeing upon their own measures of cost drivers, business strategy and local trading conditions as part of their talent acquisition and retention strategy.”

Smaller Real Wage Increases Across Most Parts of the World

Globally, real-wage salaries are expected to grow only an average of 1.0 percent in 2019. This is down from a 1.5 percent prediction for 2018.  

Eastern Europe Faring Better than Western Europe

According to the Korn Ferry forecast, employees in Eastern Europe are set to see an average salary increase of 6.6 percent in 2019. After taking inflation into account, real wages are forecast to rise by 2.0 percent, which is up from 1.4 percent last year. In Western Europe, workers are expected to see lower wage increases, with an average increase of 2.5 percent, and inflation-adjusted real wage increases of 0.7 percent. This is down from the predicted 0.9 percent real-wage growth of last year. 

Wages are predicted to increase 2.5 percent in the United Kingdom. Combined with a 1.9 percent inflation rate, real wages are expected to increase by 0.6 percent. This is up more than a percentage point from 2018, when wages were predicted to decrease by -0.5 percent. Employees in two of Europe’s largest economies, France and Germany, are forecast to see real-wage rises of 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent respectively.  

North America Lagging

In North America, the average salary growth is predicted to be 2.8 percent in 2019, and when adjusted for inflation, the real-wage growth is expected to be 0.6 percent.  

In the United States, an average 3 percent pay increase is predicted, which is the same as last year and the year before. Adjusted for the expected 2.4 percent inflation rate in 2019, the real wage increase is forecast to be 0.6 percent, down from last year’s 1.0 percent. Canadian workers will see salaries increase by 2.6 percent, and with inflation at 2.0 percent, will also experience real-wage growth of 0.6 percent.

Inflation Tempers Salary Growth in Africa

Although top-line salaries will increase by 7.7 percent in Africa, high inflation means the real increase is predicted to be only 0.9 percent. In Egypt, salaries are expected to increase by 15 percent, but a 14.4 percent inflation rate means employees will only see a 0.6 percent real-wage increase. 

Latin America Sees Year-Over-Year Drop in Real Wage Growth

Employees in Latin America are forecast to see a 4.6 percent gain in wages. With inflation, the real-wage increase in the region is expected to be 1.3 percent. This is down from 2.1 percent real-wage growth predictions from last year.  

In Colombia, inflation is expected to be 2.9 percent for 2019. With a salary increase projected at 5.0 percent, this puts real wages for Colombia up 2.1 percent. In Brazil, the expected salary increase is 4.2 percent, and with 4.3 percent inflation, workers are expected to see a -0.1 percent decrease in real wages.

Middle East Sees Second-Lowest Real Salary Increase

In the Middle East, wages are expected to increase by 3.6 percent, compared to 3.8 percent last year. Inflation-adjusted wage increases are predicted to be 0.4 percent, compared to 0.9 percent last year and 2.5 percent the year before. Things are looking better in the UAE this year, with an inflation rate of 3.2 percent combined with pay increases of 3.9 percent, which means that real wages are expected to increase by 0.7 percent. Last year real wages were predicted to fall by -0.5 percent. 

Qatar and Lebanon are both predicted to see a drop in real wages, with Qatar forecast to have a -0.5 percent loss in real wages, and Lebanon to have a -1.7 loss in real wages. This is compared to 1.8 percent growth in Lebanon last year and a 6.1 percent growth the year before.  

The Pacific Sees the Lowest Real Salary Increase

Wages in the Pacific are forecast to grow by 2.5 percent, and adjusted for inflation, the rise in real wages is predicted to be 0.3 percent. Australia will see a 2.5 percent top-line growth, a 2.3 percent inflation rate, and a 0.2 percent real wage increase. In New Zealand, a 2.5 percent salary increase is forecast, and with 2.2 percent inflation, is expected to see a 0.3 percent real salary increase.