- UK professionals are expected to receive a 1.1 percent real salary increase in 2020, equating to approximately £334.62pa on average
- Next year’s forecasted real terms salary increase is £20.44 less on average than the increase Brits received in 2019 (£355.06pa)
- India retains top spot in the global chart for real salary increases, with a 5.4 percent rise
- Ukraine tops the chart for the highest real salary increase forecasted in Europe (4.1 percent) and among the highest in the world (joint 5th)
- Due to a higher inflation forecast, employees in the United States are predicted to receive a real terms salary increase of just 0.7 percent, 0.4 percent less than the UK
According to the latest Salary Trends Report by ECA International (ECA), UK employees in the private sector are expected to see a real salary increase of 1.1 percent in 2020, the equivalent of almost £27.89 a month (£334.62 per annum) for the average worker¹ before tax. This is following a better than expected real salary increase for UK workers in 2019 (1.2 percent on average), receiving an average real salary increase of £355.06.
The real salary increase is calculated based on the difference between the forecast nominal salary increase (3 percent in the UK) and the expected level of inflation. Although the forecasted nominal increase for 2020 has remained the same as last year, higher inflation forecasted for 2020 (1.9 percent) will squeeze real salary earnings to just 1.1 percent.
The annual Salary Trends Report from global mobility experts ECA International, analyses current and projected salary increases for local employees in 68 countries across the world.
Despite similar salary increases workers are still not seeing real increases in the buying power of the level four years ago, but equally workers are expected to be significantly better off than ten years ago when the global recession led to decreases in real salaries.
Steven Kilfedder, Production Manager at ECA International said “The real salary rises we saw in 2015 were notably large due to the very low level of inflation at the time but in 2016 the EU referendum results led to higher inflation and squeezed budgets, with things only now levelling back out to a more normal level. However, when looking more long-term, things are considerably more positive for workers in the UK compared to ten years ago when the financial crisis and global recession resulted in a decrease to real salaries in 2010 and 2011.”
A significant factor on the forecast figures though, could be the uncertainty around Brexit, as well as the upcoming UK general election.
Kilfedder said: “It is still unclear what impact Brexit could have on inflation and salaries in the UK. Leaving the EU could have far-reaching implications on wage and price rises in the UK and the forecast figures could change significantly depending on what happens between now and the final withdrawal date. Another factor creating a heightened level of uncertainty is the upcoming general election and the many different possible outcomes which could all have an effect on inflation and salary increases.”
European inflation the lowest in the world, but average real salaries decrease
Despite European inflation forecasted to be the lowest in the world next year at 1.7 percent, the average forecasted real salary increase across the continent is expected to be 1.1 percent, down 0.1 percent on last year’s figure.
After employees in Ukraine experienced a 1.7 percent increase after inflation to their salaries in 2019, the improved inflation forecast in the country means that workers look set to receive a real salary increase of 4.1 percent – the highest in Europe next year. This follows a year of salary contraction in 2018 where real wages shrank by 0.9 percent and would see a total real salary increase of 5.9 percent in just two years. Ukraine is also the only European country to be in the top 10 for highest real salary increases in the world next year, and the only nation outside of the Asia-Pacific region.
Kilfedder explained “After several tough years with salary rises lower than inflation – in 2015 they were 40.5% lower – Ukrainian employees may finally see some light at the end of the tunnel with the joint 5th highest real increases globally in 2020.. In 2020, workers in Ukraine are expected to receive a nominal increase of 10.0%, but with inflation expected to drop dramatically to 5.9%, this will result in an average real salary of 4.1% – the highest in Europe.”
Asian nations continue to lead the way, as Indian employees receive highest pay increase in the world
Asian nations continue to dominate the global top twenty highest real wage increases in the forecast for 2020; 13 of the top twenty, and all but one of the top ten, are Asian countries.
India tops the rankings for 2020, where employees are forecast to receive a 5.4 percent real salary increase, nearly five times the real forecasted salary increase percentage for employees in the UK.
Kilfedder said “Once again, the vast majority of the highest real salary increases in the world are predicted to be seen in Asia. The average salary increase in the APAC region after inflation is forecast to be 3.2%, significantly higher than the global average of 1.4% and nearly three times the European average of 1.1%. This is a trend that we have seen for many years now due to low inflation and rising productivity in many Asian economies, resulting in salaries growing rapidly compared to other regions.”
Higher inflation leaves employees in the Americas facing low pay increases
Employees in the United States are forecast to receive a real salary increase of 0.7 percent, falling below the average real salary increase in the Americas which is predicted to be 1.4 percent. A forecasted increase in inflation of 0.5 percent means US employees will receive 0.4 percent less than their UK counterparts, despite the same nominal salary increase of 3 percent being forecasted for 2020.
Argentina remains bottom of the table as economic woes continue
Argentina sits at the bottom of ECA’s table, with the forecast predicting a 22 percent decrease in the average real salary. This comes off the back of a 25.4 percent decrease in real salaries in 2019.
Kilfedder said “The nominal salary increase for Argentina has stayed at a whopping 29%, the same as last year, but with inflation significantly higher at an alarming 51%, this means there will be another significant decrease in real salaries for workers in Argentina. Although President Macri and his government have now been replaced by their populist rivals in a recent election, the outlook for Argentina does not look promising and it is likely that the economic situation will get worse before it gets better.”
High inflation continues to affect African pay packets, uncertainty in Middle East continues
Despite inflation forecasted to increase 10 percent in 2020, employers in Egypt are expected to offer employees a real salary increase of 2.8 percent. This follows a year in which wages shrunk 0.7 percent in 2019.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia saw the biggest real increase in salaries in 2019 but is expected to plummet in the rankings in 2020. Real salary increases are forecast to reach 2.4% on average, a long way short of the 5.8% increase that was seen in 2019.
“Inflation has risen significantly throughout the Middle East as the stable commodity prices boost domestic demand. This has seen Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar all drop out of the global top ten as rising inflation cuts into the real salaries of workers in the region,” explained Kilfedder.
For more information visit www.eca-international.com.
Top ten forecasted real salary increases – Global
| Countries | Global ranking | Real salary increase 2020 (%) |
| India | 1 | 5.4 |
| Vietnam | 2 | 5.1 |
| Indonesia | 3 | 4.6 |
| Cambodia | 4 | 4.2 |
| Thailand | 5 | 4.1 |
| Ukraine | 5 | 4.1 |
| Philippines | 7 | 3.7 |
| China | 8 | 3.6 |
| Korea Republic | 8 | 3.6 |
| Bangladesh | 10 | 3.4 |
Top ten forecasted real salary increases – Europe
| Countries | European ranking | Real salary increase 2020 (%) |
| Ukraine | 1 | 4.1 |
| Russia | 2 | 2.9 |
| Serbia | 3 | 2.1 |
| Bulgaria | 4 | 1.7 |
| Italy | 5 | 1.5 |
| Spain | 5 | 1.5 |
| Switzerland | 7 | 1.4 |
| Romania | 8 | 1.3 |
| Belgium | 9 | 1.2 |
| Netherlands | 10 | 1.2 |
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
- ¹ Based on the median full-time weekly earnings of £585 published by the Office for National Statistics
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/annualsurveyofhoursandearnings/2019 - Rooster will coordinate comment and interview opportunities for Steven Kilfedder, Production Manager at ECA International.
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About ECA’s Salary Trends Survey
The information above was taken from ECA’s Salary Trends Survey 2019/2020. The survey reports current-year salary increases for local national employees and the anticipated increases for reviews in the forthcoming year. It is based on information collected from 307 multinational companies for 68 countries. Reports are available free to all participants or for purchase either as a set or individually per country for non-participants from the ECA website.
The forecast average real salary increase in a country is calculated by looking at the predicted average nominal salary percentage increase (i.e. the salary increase given to employees by their employers) and subtracting the forecast inflation. E.g. if the average nominal salary increase in a country is 4% and inflation is at 2.1%, this would result in an average real salary increase of 1.9% (4%-2.1%=1.9%).
Data is based on increases including merit. Including merit is the total salary increase and represents general cost of living/inflationary increases plus performance/merit related increases. The data above was collected from August to September 2018. The survey included data from all seniorities across the following industry groups which included Energy, mining & petrochemicals; Chemical & pharmaceutical; Transport & logistics; Manufacturing & consumer goods; Legal & professional services; Engineering & technology; Retail, leisure & other services; Financial services; Non-profit.
About ECA International (www.eca-international.com)
ECA International is the market-leading provider of knowledge, information and technology that enables businesses to manage their international reward programmes.
Partnering with thousands of clients on every continent, we provide a fully-integrated suite of quality data, specialist software, consultancy and training. Our unparalleled insights guide clients as they mobilise their most valuable resource: people.
We make the complex world of international mobility simple, providing clients with the expertise and support they need to make the right decisions – every time.
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