MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A recent salary survey by foundit, a leading jobs and talent platform, uncovers a stark divide in how Filipino professionals view their compensation. While nearly half (47%) feel fairly compensated, a significant 42% believe they are underpaid. This contrast presents both a challenge and an opportunity for companies aiming to stay competitive in talent acquisition and retention.
Despite salary stagnation for many, optimism runs high – nearly 80% of professionals expect a pay raise in the near future. However, expectations and reality don’t always align, underscoring the need for companies to rethink salary structures, market benchmarking, and career growth transparency to attract and retain top-tier talent.
Insights That Matter:
Salary Perception Across Career Stages
- Entry-level professionals (0-3 years) are the most optimistic, with 50.5% feeling well-compensated, though 40.7% disagree.
- Mid-level professionals (4-10 years) report the highest dissatisfaction, with 47% feeling underpaid.
- A notable 11% of professionals remain unsure about their market worth, revealing a gap in salary transparency.
Salary Growth Sentiment
- Only 40% of professionals are happy with their salary growth trajectory.
- The most dissatisfied? Junior professionals (4-6 years), with a 32.1% dissatisfaction rate.
- Industries reporting the highest dissatisfaction: FMCG (54.5%), Recruitment (53.8%), and Advertising (42.9%).
What’s Driving Pay Expectations?
- 29.7% of professionals expect a 6-10% salary increase in their next review.
- 26.9% are aiming high, anticipating a 30% or more salary jump.
- Executive-level professionals (15+ years) have the boldest expectations, with over 51% forecasting a 30%+ raise.
Salary Trends Over the Last Three Years
- 37% of professionals saw no salary movement—a wake-up call for HR leaders.
- 38% experienced pay increases, with 22% seeing significant hikes.
- 25% saw salary declines, signaling market instability in some industries.
Industry Outlook: What’s Next for Salaries?
- 79.5% of professionals remain hopeful for salary growth in their respective fields.
- The Tech & IT sector leads the pack in salary hike expectations, with many employees eyeing 30%+ increases.
The Key Forces Shaping Salaries
- 38.04% say in-demand skills are reshaping salary trends.
- 23.6% cite macroeconomic factors as major pay influencers.
- 14.44% highlight industry-specific challenges affecting compensation.
- 13.66% recognize tech-driven disruptions in salary structures.
V Suresh, CEO of foundit, commented on the findings: “Our latest survey highlights a unique divide in the Philippine workforce—while 47% of professionals feel adequately compensated, 42% believe their salaries fall below industry standards. This contrast presents both a challenge and an opportunity for employers navigating an increasingly competitive talent market.
What stands out is the strong optimism among professionals, with nearly 80% expecting salary growth despite 37% experiencing wage stagnation over the past three years. This signals a workforce that remains hopeful about future prospects, even in the face of economic uncertainties.
For organisations, this underscores the importance of strategic compensation planning. Employers who embrace transparent salary benchmarking, skills-driven pay structures, and clear career progression paths will be best positioned to attract and retain top talent. By bridging the perception gap and aligning compensation strategies with workforce expectations, companies can strengthen their employer brand and contribute to the Philippines’ continued economic growth.”
