Utilities sector sees pay increases fall to 3 per cent

Average
pay increases in the UK utilities sector have fallen to just 3 per cent over
the past 12 months, from 3.6 per cent in 2001, according to consultants Watson Wyatt.

This
pattern has been reflected at all tiers of employees from directors and senior
managers to clerical staff.

Watson
Wyatt’s Utilities Sector Survey 2002 also found that IT staff have
become an increasingly sought-after resource.

In
the 2001 survey, 80 per cent of utilities companies were providing IT staff
with additional "market premia payments", which are usually made to
address shortages.

In
the 2002 survey, 100 per cent of companies were making such payments.

Ben Willmott