Monster poll: Half expect pay raise in 2014

WESTON, USA: A global poll conducted by Monster reveals that only half of respondents (51 per cent) are expecting a pay raise this year even though recent studies indicate actual salary increase budgets for companies are still below pre-recession levels.

In honor of International Women's Day on March 8 - a day set aside to inspire women and celebrate their achievements - Monster also looked at the results by gender, finding that female and male respondents are almost identically optimistic about getting a raise in 2014: 51 per cent percent of women and 50 per cent of men answered in the affirmative.

Monster asked visitors to their site the question, "Do you expect a pay rise in the next year?" and received over 3,585 responses. International findings included:

* 23 per cent of respondents answered "Yes I expect a pay rise in the next year (I'm a woman)"

* 22 per cent of respondents answered "No I do not expect a pay rise in the next year (I'm a woman)"

* 28 per cent of respondents answered "Yes I expect a pay rise in the next year (I'm a man)"

* 27 per cent of respondents answered "No I do not expect a pay rise in the next year (I'm a man)"

Breaking down the numbers by region, Canadian respondents are the most optimistic with 57 per cent believing they will get a raise this year. Surveyed individuals in France are the least optimistic with 71 per cent answering that they do not expect a pay bump in 2014, and only 24 per cent of French women respondents expect one.

"Pay raises are based on a wide variety of factors, but it's refreshing to see that half of workers generally feel optimistic about their company's performance and confident in their contributions to it," said Mary Ellen Slayter, Career Advice Expert for Monster.

"On the other hand, we are seeing that plenty of workers aren't so hopeful about their prospects of getting a raise in 2014. If you think you deserve a pay bump but don't expect to be given one it might be indicative that it's time for a new job. Evaluate the factors that typically influence raise decisions and consider taking action," said Slayter.