Survey: Businesses planning 3 percent raises

The average Utah employer is planning to give its employees a 3 percent raise in the next year — make that 5 percent for top performers. That’s according to the 2019 Planning Packet Survey released recently by the Employers Council. The poll reveals projections about compensation budgets for 2020 made by Utah’s employers.{mprestriction ids="1,3"}

The projected 3 percent average employee pay increase for Utah in 2019 is down 0.3 percent from the actual 3.3 percent pay increase documented in 2019 in Employers Council’s 2019 Benchmark Compensation Survey.

“Overall, the survey projects Utah’s salaries will remain strong and employees will continue to experience an upswing in overall compensation,” said Ryan D. Nelson, president of Employers Council’s Utah office. “In the past year, average employee pay increased by 3.3 percent and it’s estimated to grow another 3 percent in 2020. This survey is an incredibly extensive estimate of where the entire state is headed in terms of compensation, and we are pleased to provide such relevant and helpful information to employers.”

The complete survey separated pay increases geographically among four states, including Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, as well as within Utah, including Wasatch North, Wasatch South, Mountainland and Central-Southern.

When compared with the other states, Utah’s average pay increase for the typical employee was on par with other states, though Utah’s projected pay increase for top performers was down nearly a full percent since 2018, while all other participating states’ projected top performer pay increased.

The projected pay increases for neighboring states included Arizona at 3.1 percent, Colorado at 3.1 percent and Wyoming at 3 percent. Top-performer pay hikes were set at 5.4 percent for Arizona, 5.2 percent for Colorado, and 4.6 percent for Wyoming.

The survey also includes Business Trends and Staffing/Hiring Levels sections with information related to 2020 business outlook, the greatest challenges to achieving business growth, the most challenging job groups to recruit and/or retain, strategies to overcome recruitment and retention challenges.

The full survey can be accessed by Employers Council members at the organization’s website.

Employers Council has more than 4,500 employer members and offices in Salt Lake City; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Denver, Colorado Springs, Loveland and Grand Junction, Colorado.{/mprestriction}