Average salaries in the Middle East are set to rise by 7.9 percent next year Arabian Business reported, citing a survey by human resources consulting Hewitt Associates. The report said there are signs of positive growth for next year, compared with a 6.9 percent average growth in salaries in 2009, The results apply only to Middle Eastern companies which have not opted for a salary freeze or salary cut amid the global financial crisis, the report said. The number of firms with a freeze on wages are expected to decline from 42 percent this year to 14 percent in 2010. A similar trend is also forecast for salary cuts, with the number of companies planning cuts expected to drop from 5.7 percent in 2009 to 1.9 percent next year. “According to Hewitt's salary studies across global markets, the Middle East salary projections for 2010 are among the highest in the world,” said Debabrat Mishra, the head of consulting business of the regional branch of Hewitt Associates. Hewitt Associates is a US-based global human resources outsourcing and consulting firm providing services for companies on human resources management. Its annual salary survey this year polled businesses in Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It covered 19 different industries, including construction, financial services, IT and real estate. Hewitt said one salaries in India may grow an average 9.2 percent in 2010, compared with a 6.3 percent gain this year. Wages in China may increase 6.7 percent next year from 4.5 percent in 2009, it said after a survey of 2,346 companies across 21 Asian nations. “China and India's role as the future growth engines of the global economy will continue to add fuel to the ongoing war for quality talent in these two markets,” Hewitt said. “It is not surprising to see the overall increases experienced by these markets, while they continue to lead against most other markets.”
