Firms boost salaries and perks amid lack of staff

Companies are increasing wages and boosting incentives amid tough competition for the best business support staff, a recruiter with offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow has found.

HRC Recruitment found that high demand for personnel, combined with a restricted supply of qualified staff, drove up wages across a range of professions.

In Glasgow, there were top-end salary increases for office managers to £37,000 from £35,000, for example, while Edinburgh has seen a surge in requirements for marketing staff across different industries.

Jackie Macgregor, managing consultant for HRC’S office services team, said “the dynamics have shifted in favour of candidates” with firms, particularly in professional services, beginning to make counter offers for support positions to retain experienced staff at all levels.

Meanwhile, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies reported that demand for permanent professionals in Scotland saw a 28 per cent yearon-year rise to January.