Employers are advised to take their own counsel over any pay increases they may afford this year, and not listen to what Finance Minister Bill English thinks, the Employers and Manufacturers Association says.

 “Employers need to think very carefully about what they can afford to remain competitive,” said Lisa Goldsmith, EMA’s Remuneration and Benefits Consultant.

“Circumstances vary enormously for individual businesses and any increases they can afford will differ.

“Pay rates generally fluctuate across industries and different types of positions.

“The average increase in our National Wage and Salary Survey in 2012 was 2.1 per cent, and last year it was 1.9 per cent. Overall we expect this modest increase trend to continue.

“Many businesses have been consolidating over the past few years but as better economic growth gets underway, businesses should focus on more skills training and sustainable, not rampant, growth.

“For many people their job security is worth more than pay increases.”