Kansas City, Mo. — In its annually published salary guide, local employment agency Morgan Hunter has reported significant salary upticks for employees in Kansas City following the Great Resignation, including up to a 30% increase in various industries. The average reported increase across all reported roles was 6.41%.
Morgan Hunter’s report pulls data from its own talent pool, which includes hundreds of Kansas City employees across the agency’s represented divisions (sales, marketing & operations; human resources; information technology; administration; accounting & finance). The data found that employees with one to five years of experience (entry to mid-level) have experienced the most significant increase in salary growth two years into the pandemic, reporting an average of a $10,000 – $20,000 increase across roles in various industries. Employees in sales, marketing & operations, human resources, and accounting & finance were those that reported up to a 30% increase in pay.
This rapid shift is due to both a tightening job market and to a desire to reduce turnover, according to Morgan Hunter’s Senior HR Division Director, Julie Davis.
“The market that we’re seeing right now is completely surprising. I would have never predicted such a high demand for candidates post-pandemic,” Davis said. “After the 2001 and 2008 recessions, recruiting firms saw that job market took a lot longer to recover. The rebound that we’ve seen after the COVID-19 recession — and the power that job candidates now wield with employers — is just incredible.”
Morgan Hunter’s findings also reported an increasing demand for flexibility among job candidates.
“The allowance for remote work or a hybrid model has become an expectation, not a luxury,” said Senior HR Division Director Carol Schmidt. “Many employees have reported feeling more productive and focused while working remotely, and according to our data, 34% of candidates prioritize the proximity and convenience of a company’s location when considering a job offer. For 2022, this stat is trending much higher than job security, work-life balance or even benefits.”
Other noteworthy stats included a 5% reported increase in workers’ comfort level around negotiating salary (60% pre-COVID and 65% after) and current average salary ranges for roles across various industries. These employee-centric adjustments have overall culminated in what the employment world calls a “candidate-driven market.”
To download and view Morgan Hunter’s full 2022 Salary Guide, click here: https://www.morganhunter.com/salary-guide/.
About Morgan Hunter
Since 1986, Morgan Hunter has served Kansas City-area employers to help them meet a range of hiring needs, from temporary staffing to direct-hire placements. We’re more than just a recruiting firm — we’re a partner and a performer, leveraging our relationships and expertise to match companies with sought-after talent. To learn more about our staffing solutions, visit morganhunter.com or call (913)-491-3434.