Clerical
staff are enjoying pay increases well above the rate of inflation and the
economy as a whole, according to research published today by IRS Employment
Review.
The
survey of 2003 salaries found that the median basic salary for the lowest
clerical and secretarial grades rose by 5.4 per cent.Â
This
represents a fall from the 5.9 per cent increase recorded in the IRS survey of
2002 salaries. However, it is well ahead of the whole economy figure for the 12
months to December 2003, which stood at 3 per cent.
The
survey of pay awards runs from January to November 2003. The research includes
information from 23 private sector employers and 13 public sector
organisations.
IRS
editor Sheila Attwood said: “While the overall figures show a marked increase
in salaries, some of the starting salary levels are still relatively low.
"However,
a number of organisations are working to address low pay in some sectors, with
pay settlements focusing on improving pay progression, particularly for
clerical employees in the public sector," she said.
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