'Indian companies may offer highest salary increases in Asia Pacific next year'

Indian companies expect to raise employee salaries by 9.8% in 2024, close to the 10% increase in 2023, making India the country with the highest salary hikes in Asia Pacific, according to WTW's Salary Budget Planning Report. The report cited tighter labour markets and rising inflation as some of the major concerns influencing salary increase in companies for next year. However, compared to 2022, more than half of companies have increased their salary budgets this year, while a quarter have raised their budgets above the projections they made in December 2022, the survey showed.

Technology, media and gaming, financial services and retail sectors are expected to see the highest salary increase of 10% in 2024.

Companies in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector (10% vs 9.8%), retail (10% vs 9.9%) and captives (9.9% vs 9.8%) have projected marginally higher increases for 2024 as compared to the actual salary increase in 2023 due to the continued demand for talent. "Companies across industries are still closely monitoring their cost structures," said Rajul Mathur, consulting leader, work and rewards, WTW India.

The Salary Budget Planning Report was conducted in April and May 2023 with around 32,512 sets of responses from companies across 150 countries.