With our Republic of Ireland 2012 Salary Survey currently being compiled, we would like to know: Is your company likely to raise salaries next year?

David Bloch, MD of the Brightwater Group comments:

I was surprised by the overwhelming number of people who don’t plan to raise salaries. There is no doubt whatsoever that there is a skills shortage – and this isn’t recruitment speak, all of you out there will know how difficult it is to attract and retain top talent. All the talk of unemployment means little when there are thousands of construction workers out of work and you’re looking for an ACA from a Top 10 firm or worse, a Java programmer. You have to pay to attract, or retain key people.

IBEC (the employers group) have recently compiled a report that suggests that salaries will rise 0.3% in 2012 - the first rise since 2008. Our salary survey (out next week) suggests they are right, and benefits are beginning to return (in an attempt to retain key staff, and control salaries). Furthermore, there is a big gap between sectors with IT companies set to improve packages, construction companies continuing to reduce them and much variation in between (see Brightwater Salary Survey).

At the time of writing this, I find it very difficult to call, and perhaps that is why most employers feel they won’t be doing anything much at all. We don’t know what the immediate future holds. However, the one thing I’m certain of is that Ireland will come through whatever is in front of it. Ireland has already withstood more than almost anyone else, showing maturity, integrity and tenacity. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my career, it’s that it all boils down to people and Ireland has the best!

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