• Salaries rise by an average of 2.6% across all professional roles in finance and accounting, financial services, information technology and administration
• Salaries not enough to retain top performers: candidates look for flexibility and extra perks and benefits
• New roles and above average salaries reflect need to rebuild business growth rather than just cut costs
• Renewed need for decision makers to be involved in recruitment process to speed it up and secure chosen candidates

The UK employment market continues to improve and demand for specialist occupations far outweighs supply, resulting in talent shortages in niche areas, according to the 2015 Robert Half Salary Guide.  Salaries for professional roles in finance and accounting, financial services, information technology and administration rose on average by 2.6% over the past 12 months, compared to the current rate of inflation of 1.2% (September 2014).

The Robert Half 2015 Salary Guide is the most comprehensive and authoritative resource on starting salaries and recruitment trends in finance and accounting, financial services, information technology and administration.  For the first time this year, Robert Half has included all four sectors in a single Salary Guide, which enables employers and employees to benchmark salaries for different roles on a national and regional basis.

Research for this year’s guide shows that the north-south divide is narrowing in terms of salaries and hiring.  While London still boasts the strongest economic performance, further hiring across the UK has created opportunities for businesses and professionals alike.  Many London-based businesses are expanding their operations outside the capital, bringing corporate services functions as well as commercial focus into the regions.

Administration and office support
There is a growing demand for entry-level people to join firms that are increasing headcount and want to grow skills from the bottom up.  In these cases companies are clearly looking for candidates with the right attitude and are who are driven/business oriented and don’t necessarily have huge amounts of experience.  Competition for these individuals is increasingly robust, so there is a strong need for clear hiring criteria and streamlined evaluation processes.  Skills and attributes in demand include Microsoft Office, Apple Mac OS (for creative industries) and social media savviness. HR managers say the hardest positions to fill are HR assistants (cited by 30%), office management (27%), logistics support (25%), project administrative support (22%) and executive / personal assistance (22%).

Phil Sheridan, Senior Managing Director, Robert Half UK commented: "With hiring returning to pre-recessionary levels, businesses are recognising that the available talent pool is shrinking, with the best candidates receiving multiple offers and counteroffers.  It is therefore crucial that the remuneration companies offer is competitive with other businesses in their industry and region.

“It’s also important to remember that remuneration includes more than just salary – in demand professionals are looking for a range of benefits as well as flexibility in their work/life balance.  We are seeing a definite rise in the number of candidates turning down job offers, particularly when firms are slow to act and get their offers out of the door.”