Salary is clearly not the only reason for communication professionals to stay in their current jobs. In the IABC study, 28 percent of respondents cited "opportunities for advancement" as the primary non-financial incentive that might compel them to leave their current job. The second most popular incentive was "work-life balance" (23 percent of respondents), followed by "more interesting work" (20 percent). Other reasons for switching jobs included shorter commute time, better benefits package, better perks, closer to family, and better workplace environment.
When asked about their employment situation in two years, 61 percent of respondents said they see themselves working in their present organization. 29 percent indicated they would likely be working in another organization, while 7 percent reported that they would be self-employed in the next two years.
The study also reported that 90 percent of communication professionals received a raise in the past two years. Of these, 43 percent received a pay increase of 10 percent or higher, while 47 percent received a pay increase of 1 to 10 percent. When asked about their expected salary increases at the next review, 80 percent of respondents said they expect an increase of 5 percent or lower, while 16 percent of respondents expect a 6 to 10 percent increase in salary. Further, 64 percent of respondents reported they would receive variable pay in 2006.
The IABC Research Foundation commissioned ResearchWorks Inc. to undertake the analysis and reporting of the Profile study. Over 3,000 IABC members from around the world participated in the study and answered questions about their organizations, salaries, job satisfaction, years of experience, educational backgrounds, and job responsibilities. (Salary data was converted to U.S. dollars for standardization, using the 2006 yearly average rate of exchange.)
The IABC study also examined the length of time the respondents had spent at the same organization. Most professionals surveyed (41 percent) had been at their present organization for one to less than five years, followed by 24 percent who had been at their organizations for five to less than 10 years. Eighteen percent reported that they had been with their current organization for less than one year.
The benefits most commonly received were medical plans (90 percent), dental plans (85 percent), paid vacations (83 percent), and life insurance (76 percent). The majority of respondents (86 percent) reported that their benefits were paid for by their employer.
For more information and charts on the Profile study findings, please visit the Resources section of the IABC News Centre.
About IABC
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) enables a global network of communicators working in diverse industries and disciplines to identify, share, and apply the world's most effective communication practices. Established in 1970, IABC serves more than 14,500 members in 70 countries and 100 chapters. For more information, visit www.iabc.com.
