Managers in Emerging Economies Winning on Pay: Hay Group Research Finds US Managers Lose out on Disposable Income

Business Wire, July 16, 2007

PHILADELPHIA -- US companies face competition for top-talent not only from other US companies, but also from companies in other countries that have a lower cost of living and a lower tax rate, research from global management consultancy Hay Group reveals today.

Hay Group's research showed that management in the US is poorly paid compared to emerging economies. American managers are ranked just 24thin the world pay league table of 46 countries, with a buying power equivalent to an average salary of $104,905 when tax and cost of living are taken into account.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rank at the top of the list, with average salary buying power in excess of $220,000.

In emerging economies such as Russia, Turkey and Mexico, managers are enjoying far higher levels of buying power for their pay than their counterparts in the US and other developed markets, earning and effective average salary of more than $150,000. Indeed, Switzerland, Germany and Ireland are the only European countries to make it into the top 20 countries for management buying power.

"Companies are operating in an increasingly open and competitive global economy, and emerging markets are offering managers higher disposable incomes than established countries -which is making these locations an attractive prospect for management talent," said Iain Fitzpatrick, Director Reward Information Services for Hay Group North America.

"This makes sobering reading for companies in Western Europe and the US, who face not only local competition for managerial talent, but an increasing threat from buoyant new economies."

Hay Group's World Pay Report was compiled by comparing detailed cross-country pay information(i) from Hay Group PayNet, at management (head of function/department) level(ii). The study used Hay Group's globally consistent data, which means that meaningful comparisons can be made around the world. Cost of living and tax were then taken into account to reveal disposable income levels - the true purchasing power of managerial pay - for 46 countries in North America, South America, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific.

"The continued growth of emerging markets is creating unprecedented demand for senior talent," said Steve Marsden, Global Director of Reward Information Services at Hay Group.

"The resulting talent shortage, plus the premiums paid to managers in these hot markets, is inflating management pay in less advanced economies."

Top of the Tree

Managers in the oil-rich, tax-free states of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates take home the highest disposable incomes worldwide, with pay equating to buying power in excess of $220,000.

"Managers in Saudi and the UAE enjoy soaring levels of take-home pay, as employers in this region pay more attention to cash rather than performance-based incentives," said Vijay Gandhi, Reward Information Services Manager for Hay Group Dubai.

"But as demand for experienced managers remains high, companies in the region are looking more closely at the use of long-term incentives as a way of attracting and retaining international talent."

The international finance and trade centre of Hong Kong ranks third, with pay buying power equivalent to $203,947.

"Pay rates for management have traditionally been high in Hong Kong - up to more than a third higher than other Asian cities such as Singapore - with management buying power enhanced by low rates of income tax," said Hern Yin Goh, Reward Information Services Manager for Hay Group China.

Western Europe

Management pay in Western European countries fares poorly by comparison.

The UK is ranked just 40th in the management pay stakes, Germany is placed just 19th, with France 31st, and Italy 28th.

Only Spain, where the cost of living is lower, remains reasonably placed, taking 12th spot with disposable incomes of around $128,197.

China and India

In comparison, China's rapid economic development is reflected in disposable incomes at management level averaging $126,281 - placing the country 14(th) in the world pay table.

However, despite its impressive economic development, the picture is far less encouraging in India. At 36th in the global pay stakes, managers in the country have buying power of just $92,750.

"Chinese companies have realised the need to attract management talent as economic acceleration continues apace, having a significant upward impact on managers' pay," said Hern Yin Goh.

"However, India benefits from a large tier of well educated, English-speaking local talent, making management pay more immune to the international market. That said, managers' pay is increasing at double-digit rates in India - between 15 - 20% - so it is unlikely to stay at the bottom of the pay table for long."

NOTES TO EDITORS

The World Pay Report: Table of Results

Rank  <                  Country
Average Disposable Income: Managers ($)
1     <                  Saudi Arabia
229,325
2     <                  UAE
223,939
3     <                  Hong Kong
203,947
4     <                  Russia
157,348
5     <                  Turkey
154,762
6     <                  Mexico
152,283
7     <                  Ukraine
149,118
8     <                  Thailand
147,547
9     <                  Singapore
142,655
10    <                  Argentina
138,188
11    <                  Poland
128,537
12    <                  Spain
128,197
13    <                  Switzerland
127,732
14    <                  China
126,281
15    <                  Greece
126,102
16    <                  Malaysia
126,026
17    <                  Brazil
123,766
18    <                  Lithuania
122,941
19    <                  Germany
122,427
20    <                  Ireland
117,010
21    <                  Portugal
116,678
22    <                  Romania
115,280
23    <                  Austria
112,906
24    <                  United States
104,905
25    <                  Netherlands
103,823
26    <                  Australia
103,578
27    <                  Japan
102,604
28    <                  Italy
101,487
29    <                  South Africa
100,257
30    <                  New Zealand
100,136
31    <                  France
98,117
32    <                  South Korea
97,867
33    <                  Latvia
97,409
34    <                  Czech Republic
97,352
35    <                  Egypt
97,001
36    <                  India
92,750
37    <                  Hungary
91,358
38    <                  Belgium
89,632
39    <                  Slovakia
86,632
40    <                  United Kingdom
86,367
41    <                  Denmark
82,697
42    <                  Canada
81,613
43    <                  Estonia
80,908
44    <                  Norway
77,202
45    <                  Sweden
75,581
46    <                  Finland
74,038
47    <                  Indonesia
71,839