Employers have been urged to up their game with improved benefits, holidays, training and career opportunities to attract and retain staff, according to a new report.
An annual salary survey, published by recruitment firm Cooper Lomaz, shows skills shortages in some sectors meant employees were benefitting from a bidding war of offers as existing bosses fought to keep staff members.
However the report said a slump in the oil and gas industry, which was the top paying sector in last year's survey, has seen companies cutting to skeleton staff, and vacancies becoming scarce.
Cooper Lomaz, based in Norwich and Bury St Edmunds, said staff in the oil and gas industry were seeking to transfer their skills to other areas.
Operations director Mark Fletcher said: 'There is some activity around renewables and offshore wind, but people are also taking health and safety, control system engineering and mechanical engineering roles in other sectors, such as manufacturing, food and defence.'
The survey is compiled from information provided by more than 2,000 professionals in a range of sectors along with data from interviews with more than 15,000 candidates.
It found 55pc of businesses were planning to expand staffing this year, and wages increased by about 4pc, with 58pc of those surveyed receiving a salary increase.
With talent at a premium employees were 'clearly aware that they operate from a position of strength in the current market,' said Mr Fletcher.
Key staff looking to move to other companies, including in engineering, IT and accountancy are seeing their current employers coming back with salary rises in a bid to keep them
Average salaries in Norfolk were £7,000 lower than in Cambridgeshire, at £30,992, with Suffolk slightly higher at £31,193.
But people are not solely motivated by how much they get paid said Mr Fletcher, who urged employers to recognise that, while salary remains important, opportunities for professional development and recognition of achievement were 'key factors in staff retention'.
He added: 'It's important for companies that cut back in the recession and credit crunch to invest in staff.'
Is your company taking on new staff? Call Sabah Meddings on 01603 772879.
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