Workers set for bumper pay rises

"Workers set for a bumper pay rise. Nearly 34,000 new jobs were created in April"

        Australian workers can expect pumper pay rises this year as business confidence rises and the economy recovers.

        The majority of bosses handed out pay rises of less than 3 percent last year, but this year around half will boost workers' pay by between 3 and 6 percent across all industries, according to a survey from recruitment firm Hays.

        "There is new optimism in the market with 67 percent of employers surveyed predicting the economy will strengthen in the next 6 to 12 months," said Nigel Heap, Managing Director of Hays Asia Pacific.

        "[It is] very different picture to this time last year."

        While unemployment did not rise by as much as expected throughout the global financial crisis, many workers were subjected to pay freezes and, in some cases, reduced hours. But this year, more than 50% of companies are planning to hire more full time staff.

        Workers in the mining and resources industry are set for the biggest boost with 15 percent in line for pay rises of between 6 and 10 percent, while those in the construction industry are set for the dame rise in 10 percent of cases.

        However, people who work in media and hospitality industries are most likely to miss out on a pay rise this year with 69 percent and 54 percent set for increases or less than 3 percent.

        Australia's economic recovery has created more than 361,000 jobs in the past eight months, according to the most recent employment data from the Australian Bureau of statistics.

        Nearly 34,000 new jobs were created in April with a 37,500 increase in full-time jobs offset by a 3900 fall in part-time roles.