Since 2009 local firm Forsythes Recruitment have compiled local salary information, to provide employees and businesses the opportunity to anonymously exchange and compare salary data.

This year they received 2500 survey responses from across the Hunter, Central

Coast and Sydney regions, bringing the total to over 10,000 responses over the last four years.

Forsythes Recruitment Director Geoff Crews said that fundamental shifts are occurring in the jobs market with the unemployment rate rising and more employees taking on contract and temporary roles.

“The information that can be gleaned for this survey means that local businesses can have a more honest view of how their employee salaries compare and what changes are occurring in the marketplace,” Geoff said.

“The site works on an honesty-based ‘get to give’ model whereby all salary data is entered by Hunter Region and Central Coast locals to help each other establish what people in the region are really being paid.”

“We encourage local business people to contribute and help maximise the richness of this data by contributing their salary information.”

The survey suggests that there are many factors likely to drive change in salaries over the next 12 months and beyond, but that the exchange rate, the carbon tax and the federal election will have a significant impact.

“In general, business decision-making and recruitment is at a standstill awaiting a new national government. Nowhere is this more evident than the mining sector, which is in transition from investment phase to production phase.”

All salary figures quoted are base salaries, excluding superannuation, motor vehicles and bonuses.

To view the Salary Survey Snapshot click here, alternatively visit the website to learn more.