Leading recruitment firm GWG has launched the 2022 Newcastle Salary Guide, providing a detailed view of permanent and contract salaries across more than 300 positions and 17 sectors.

A high-value tool for local employers, employees, and job seekers alike, the guide provides key insights and salary data, specific to Newcastle and the Hunter Region.

GWG’s Executive Director and CEO, Julie Gearie, said the significant undersupply of talent is a key theme of the 2022 edition.

“Prolonged restriction of movement, lower unemployment, and business growth, driven by government stimulus, have accelerated the war for talent.”

“This impact on supply and demand has resulted in steep increases in salaries of up to 40% in key industries.”

“Day rates for contractors are rising in line with salaries. We have observed steady increases of between 8 and 12% across the board in the last 12 months,” Julie said.

Due to these conditions, the release of the 2022 Newcastle Salary Guide comes at a pivotal time Julie explained.

“To ensure organisations can attract and retain the right talent, they need to pay particular attention to salaries and benefits.”

“Candidates are holding strong with salary expectations, and we’ve seen more counteroffers in the previous 12 months than ever before, so hiring managers should be continually benchmarking salaries for each role to win key talent as salaries rapidly rise.”

“Active candidates with key skill sets are considering multiple offers and the hiring process is accelerating. It is critical for hiring managers to make offers after the first interview to secure preferred candidates early,” she said.

Despite the constraints on talent attraction, Julie is positive about the employment and economic outlook for the region.

“Hiring is strong – up by more than 30% on the previous year, indicating the rapid growth and potential of the region.”

“Inbound migration of up to 10% indicates that Newcastle and the greater Hunter Region will continue to hold appeal for those looking for an alternative to capital city-living in a post-pandemic world.”

“The lifestyle benefits of comparatively affordable housing, open spaces, shorter commutes, less reliance on congested public transport routes, great amenities and jobs growth are clear, particularly for families.”

“Emerging opportunities in Renewable Energy, Manufacturing, Technology and Health are proving enticing for those hoping to combine a lifestyle change with new professional opportunities,” Julie explained.

Salary increases have been recorded across the board, however, Julie noted there are some clear upsides for roles in high demand.

“We’ve seen strong demand for roles in technology, including software developers, business analysts, project managers, data analysts, data scientists, business intelligence and cyber security roles in particular.”

“A healthy construction pipeline, driven by increased government and private investment in large infrastructure projects, is pushing up demand along with salaries across construction, engineering and other contracted services.”

“Roles in particular demand include civil project managers, project engineers, contracts managers, environmental planners and scientists,” Julie said.

GWG’s Director, Marketing, Lara Grierson, said the Salary Guide is the most comprehensive to date.

“In this edition, we have included a dedicated executive salaries section and expanded data across the manufacturing, risk & compliance and technology sectors.”

“Across 2021 and into 2022 we have seen a strong increase in Executive Recruitment in response to challenges and opportunities presented as part of the ‘new normal’ operating environment.”

“This accelerated transformation has elevated the influence of and demand for skilled C-suite leaders, particularly executives with transformation, risk and compliance capability,” Lara explained.

Designed for hiring managers, professionals and job seekers, the data within the 2022 Newcastle Salary Guide is based on placements, research, and insights from thousands of local candidates and clients, Lara said.

“We’ve developed both a downloadable PDF and interactive online version that will be updated regularly and highly accessible. It’s easy to access, there’s no registration process or forms to fill out, just click and download,” she explained.

For the full salary guide and more insights download the 2022 Newcastle Salary Guide at gwg.com.au/salaries.

IMAGE | GWG Director, Lara Grierson and GWG Executive Director and CEO, Julie Gearie.