Most US employers not budging on budgets, salary increases remain flat
WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) reports that US salary increase budgets for 2026 are expected to remain flat at 3.5%, matching 2025 levels. The study reveals that 53% of organizations maintained their anticipated pay budgets in 2025, while 31% project lower increases due to recession concerns and cost management.
Employee retention has improved, with only 30% of organizations reporting difficulty in attracting or retaining talent, down 11 percentage points since 2023. Companies are responding through various initiatives, including enhanced employee experience (47%), improved health benefits (43%), and increased training (40%). The average annual payroll expense increased by 3.6%, with 70% of organizations reporting higher total payroll costs than last year.
WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) comunica che i budget per gli aumenti salariali negli Stati Uniti per il 2026 dovrebbero rimanere stabili al 3,5%, in linea con i livelli del 2025. Lo studio evidenzia che il 53% delle organizzazioni ha mantenuto invariati i budget salariali previsti per il 2025, mentre il 31% prevede aumenti pi霉 contenuti a causa di preoccupazioni legate alla recessione e alla gestione dei costi.
La fidelizzazione dei dipendenti 猫 migliorata, con solo il 30% delle organizzazioni che segnala difficolt脿 nell鈥檃ttrarre o trattenere talenti, una diminuzione di 11 punti percentuali rispetto al 2023. Le aziende rispondono con diverse iniziative, tra cui il miglioramento dell鈥檈sperienza dei dipendenti (47%), benefici sanitari potenziati (43%) e maggiori investimenti nella formazione (40%). La spesa media annua per il personale 猫 aumentata del 3,6%, con il 70% delle organizzazioni che segnala costi salariali totali pi霉 elevati rispetto all鈥檃nno precedente.
WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) informa que los presupuestos para aumentos salariales en EE. UU. para 2026 se esperan que se mantengan estables en un 3,5%, igualando los niveles de 2025. El estudio revela que el 53% de las organizaciones mantuvo sus presupuestos salariales previstos en 2025, mientras que el 31% proyecta aumentos menores debido a preocupaciones por la recesi贸n y la gesti贸n de costos.
La retenci贸n de empleados ha mejorado, con solo el 30% de las organizaciones reportando dificultades para atraer o retener talento, una disminuci贸n de 11 puntos porcentuales desde 2023. Las empresas est谩n respondiendo con diversas iniciativas, incluyendo una mejor experiencia para el empleado (47%), mejores beneficios de salud (43%) y mayor capacitaci贸n (40%). El gasto anual promedio en n贸mina aument贸 un 3,6%, con el 70% de las organizaciones reportando costos totales de n贸mina m谩s altos que el a帽o pasado.
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WTW (NASDAQ : WTW) rapporte que les budgets d鈥檃ugmentation salariale aux 脡tats-Unis pour 2026 devraient rester stables 脿 3,5%, correspondant aux niveaux de 2025. L鈥櫭﹖ude r茅v猫le que 53% des organisations ont maintenu leurs budgets salariaux pr茅vus en 2025, tandis que 31% pr茅voient des augmentations plus faibles en raison des inqui茅tudes li茅es 脿 la r茅cession et 脿 la gestion des co没ts.
La r茅tention des employ茅s s鈥檈st am茅lior茅e, avec seulement 30% des organisations signalant des difficult茅s 脿 attirer ou retenir les talents, soit une baisse de 11 points de pourcentage depuis 2023. Les entreprises r茅agissent par diverses initiatives, notamment une meilleure exp茅rience employ茅 (47%), des avantages sant茅 am茅lior茅s (43%) et une formation accrue (40%). La d茅pense annuelle moyenne en masse salariale a augment茅 de 3,6%, 70% des organisations rapportant des co没ts salariaux totaux plus 茅lev茅s que l鈥檃nn茅e pr茅c茅dente.
WTW (NASDAQ: WTW) berichtet, dass die Gehaltserh枚hungsbudgets f眉r 2026 in den USA voraussichtlich stabil bei 3,5% bleiben und damit das Niveau von 2025 halten. Die Studie zeigt, dass 53% der Organisationen ihre geplanten Gehaltsbudgets f眉r 2025 beibehalten haben, w盲hrend 31% aufgrund von Rezessions盲ngsten und Kostenmanagement geringere Erh枚hungen erwarten.
Die Mitarbeiterbindung hat sich verbessert, da nur 30% der Organisationen Schwierigkeiten bei der Gewinnung oder Bindung von Talenten melden, was einem R眉ckgang um 11 Prozentpunkte seit 2023 entspricht. Unternehmen reagieren mit verschiedenen Ma脽nahmen, darunter verbesserte Mitarbeitererfahrungen (47%), bessere Gesundheitsleistungen (43%) und mehr Schulungen (40%). Die durchschnittlichen j盲hrlichen Personalkosten stiegen um 3,6%, wobei 70% der Organisationen h枚here Gesamtkosten als im Vorjahr melden.
- Employee retention has improved with 11 percentage point decrease in organizations reporting talent difficulties
- Organizations are investing in employee experience (47%) and health benefits (43%)
- 70% of organizations maintain ability to increase payroll expenses despite economic uncertainty
- Salary increase budgets remain flat at 3.5% for 2026
- 31% of organizations project lower salary budgets due to recession concerns
- Average annual payroll expenses increased by 3.6%, pressuring company costs
NEW YORK, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Average salary increase budgets for US companies in 2026 are expected to remain stable at
Three out of five organizations saw their salary budgets change in the last pay cycle. More than half (
鈥淲hile top-line budgets are generally holding steady, the real shift is happening beneath the surface. Organizations are being more deliberate about how they allocate pay, where they focus investment and what outcomes they expect to drive. Employers are no longer simply reacting to economic signals; they鈥檙e reimagining how to best support broader business goals despite uncertainty,鈥� said Brittany Innes, director, Rewards Data Intelligence.
Despite stable pay increases, employees are staying put. Fewer organizations this year have found employee stability challenging compared to the past two years. Less than one-third of organizations (
In response to market conditions in which turnover is relatively low and burnout and disengagement remains a concern, organizations have taken a number of actions to support their workforce, including improving the employee experience (
Additionally, employers are adjusting compensation programs to address the competitive labor market and inflationary pressures. These actions have included conducting a compensation review of all employees (
As organizations focus on these efforts, they continue to wrestle with higher annual payroll expenses. The average annual payroll expense increased by nearly
鈥淎s employers navigate continued economic uncertainty, ongoing increases in labor costs and the changing needs and expectations of employees, they are positioning themselves for what is to come and making investments in their workforces that go beyond pay raises. These include career development, wellbeing, flexibility and equity鈥攂ecause these are critical for performance, retention and resilience in a shifting market,鈥� said Lori Wisper, managing director, Work & Rewards.
About the survey
The Salary Budget Planning Report is compiled by WTW鈥檚 Rewards Data Intelligence practice. The survey was conducted from April to June of 2025. Approximately 29,128 responses were received from companies across 157 countries worldwide. In the U.S., 1,569 organizations responded.
About WTW
At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.
Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success鈥攁nd provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.
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FAQ
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