Average salaries increase by 8.9% in the consultancy sector

Money

Advertised salaries in the consultancy sector increased by 8.9% year on year in August 2016, according to research by Adzuna.

Its latest Jobs market report, which is based on online job vacancy data in the UK, found that average advertised salaries in the consultancy sector reached £47,760 in August 2016, compared to £43,839 in August 2015.

The research also found average advertised salaries in the UK grew by 7.9% year on year in the property sector, by 4% year on year in the PR industry, and by 2% in the IT industry.

Advertised salaries in the UK increased by 0.3% from July 2016 to reach £32,784 in August 2016, the first time this figure has increased in five months. Compared to August 2015, average advertised salaries in the UK fell by 1.6%.

In August 2016, Northern Ireland had the lowest average advertised salary at £28,134, followed by North East England at £28,443, and Wales at £28,789.

At the other end of the scale, the average advertised salary in London was £39,607, followed by South East England at £31,817, and Scotland with £30,599.

Doug Monro, co-founder at Adzuna, said: “It’s too early to sound a fanfare for the return of salary growth with wages still far below pre-recession levels, but jobseekers are seeing a modest salary boost. Inflation is expected to rise, so higher starting salaries will be critical to maintain real wages.

“One sector benefitting from Brexit is the consultancy industry. In an uncertain environment, [organisations] are looking for highly skilled experts, without having to shoulder the burden of an expanding wage bill. Consultants are also helping them demystify the business consequences of the vote. Other industries like PR are also seeing salaries rise as employers prefer to commission projects to outside agencies, rather than hire permanent staff.”