North East employees exhibit above average job confidence and demand higher pay
Employees in the North East are more optimistic about their job prospects than the national average and, as a result, are expecting more significant pay increases compared to other regions. This is according to the latest Robert Half Jobs Confidence Index (JCI), an economic confidence tracker produced in collaboration with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr).
The data reveals that 68% of workers in the region are confident in their job prospects this year, surpassing the national average of 60% and exceeding London’s 63%. Although this figure slightly drops to 56% when considering their career confidence over the next five years, it still remains higher than the national average of 46% and London’s 54%.
This increased confidence is driving higher-than-average pay expectations throughout the region. Nationally, 65% of workers expect a pay rise this year, but in the North East, 71% are confident their salaries will increase. Additionally, employees in the North East anticipate a 4.5% average pay rise, compared to the 3.8% national average.
Given the high level of confidence among the workforce, it is perhaps unsurprising that nearly two-thirds (65%) of employees in the North East indicated they would take some form of action if they did not receive the expected pay rise. This could include negotiating additional benefits with their employer, taking on freelance or part-time work, or considering changing jobs.
Conor McCabe, Market Director for Northern England at Robert Half, commented:
“With such high levels of job confidence reported in the North East it’s no wonder that employee pay expectations are inflated. However, for most businesses that have already faced a tough first half of the year, salary increases on the levels staff desire aren’t necessarily going to be feasible. What is interesting to note, though, is that workers in the region are interested in negotiating additional benefits packages with their employers, which could prove more cost-effective overall.”