Salary Survey 2006

This report is the second study of its kind completed by NICVA in the past five years. It looks at workforce composition with regard to age, sex, contracts, job titles and remuneration levels.

The 2006 Salary Survey research focuses on the salaries of different job levels within the voluntary and community sector. In addition to building upon the findings of the 2001 Salary Survey this research also compares its findings with similar research completed in the private sector to establish if the gap in salaries between the private and voluntary and community sectors still exists.

The issues of salaries and benefits are of huge interest to the sector. Organisations are trying to provide their staff with competitive pay and benefits in an attempt to reduce the high turnover of staff and the costs of recruitment campaigns.

Research approach

The overall research design was based on a postal survey of a representative sample of voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland. The survey consisted of a salary grid and a questionnaire which requested information on benefits, recruitment and retention of staff, salaries, pension and overall income. A sample of 2,000 organisations was generated to take part in this research of which 16.5% (covering 3,651 employees) responded during December 2005.

Key findings

• The majority of employees in the sector have an average age of between 31 and 50.
• 18.4% of employees in responding organisations are full-time male workers, 44.5% of overall employees are female and work full time.
• Over one quarter of organisations have difficulties with recruitment. The most prominent difficulty with regard to recruitment is the lack of specialist skills from prospective candidates.
• 14% of organisations felt that the benefits package they offer employees has had a negative impact on recruitment.
• Nearly 60% of organisations operate occupational sick pay schemes in excess of the statutory minimum.
• The 2001 Salary Survey found that 49% of organisation had pay links with specific payscale, in 2006 that has increased to just over 67%.
• Over 50% of organisations in the private sector and just over 54% of organisations involved in the voluntary and community sector provide flexible working policies.
• Overall this research found that 43% of organisations offer staff an occupational pension scheme of which 98% are contributory in nature.