REPEAT: MNI: UK Pay Deals Stuck At 2% In Sep-Nov: XpertHR

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 15:21 GMT Dec 19/10:21 EST Dec 19

By David Robinson

     LONDON (MNI) - UK pay deals remained stuck fast at 2% as 2018 drew to its

close, a survey by XpertHR published Tuesday found.

     Based on awards in September through end November, XpertHR found that the

median pay award was 2%, with the middle half of pay awards between 1% and 2.5.

There was no difference between segments of the private sector's median pay

awards, with manufacturing, production and services all recording 2% outturns.

     The private sector also saw median pay deals of 2% in the 12 months to end

November, while the public sector saw average increases of just 1%.

     Over the 12 months to the end of November 2017, the median pay award in the

private sector is 2%, compared with 1% in the public sector.

     The Markit survey for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation recorded

rising pay for those moving into new jobs, but for those in existing jobs pay

growth flat-lined in 2017.

     "Employers have kept a lid on their pay settlements for the past year, and

all indications are that this will continue in 2018 too. Employees who are in

skills shortages areas might be able to secure higher increases, but for the

majority employers are looking to stick to the 2% figure," XpertHR pay and

benefits editor Sheila Attwood said.

     Bank of England agents have reported evidence that employers are expecting

to make higher pay in 2018 but the XpertHR evidence raises doubts over whether

the acceleration in pay growth will materialise.

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2223; email: david.robinson@marketnews.com