A staggering 58 percent of employers in the UK believe that they will lose staff in the next six months as they seek to earn more by moving jobs, according to new research.
According to the research by global talent services company, Morgan McKinley for its 2023 Salary Guide, 56 percent of employees in the UK are looking to move jobs in the first half of the year, with 49 percent selecting ‘higher salary’ as the primary reason, followed by ‘better career growth and development opportunities’ (17%).
The survey revealed that 72 percent of employers had to offer higher than anticipated salaries to attract new employees over the last year. Furthermore, 74 percent of employers in the UK think that salaries in their specific sector will rise in 2023, with over half (56%) planning on increasing base salaries across all teams.
55 percent of employees in the UK are expecting their salaries to increase this year, with 59 percent also expecting some form of bonus payout.
More than half (56%) of businesses plan to hire new permanent or contract employees in the next six months.
David Leithead, Chief Operating Officer of Morgan McKinley UK, commented:
“Whilst the economic downturn will be on many employers’ minds and is bound to depress the hiring market to an extent, there is a strong sense that the kind of talent that can contribute to progress and improvement will remain in high demand. The underlying business needs for talent do not change.”
“Generally speaking, there was strong wage inflation associated with moving jobs in 2022. Many companies tore up the rule book, ignored salary guides, and simply pulled out all the stops to secure talent. The sense of competitive bidding was exacerbated by the determination of the hirer being matched by the current employer not wanting to lose their employee. We don’t expect to see such widespread increases this year, but they are likely to recur in areas where the shortage of skills is acute.”
Leithead concluded: “Despite companies looking cautiously to the future, pressure remains to find new talent in response to staff turnover, driving ahead with change agendas, satisfying new regulatory and legal regimes, and maximising the commercial opportunities that continue to exist. Employers need to ensure what they are offering is aligned to expectations, encompassing salaries and benefits. This is even more crucial considering the skills shortage that remains across many industries. Top talent will always be in demand, and 2023 will be no different in that regard.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
