Secretaries' pay beats the recession

SECRETARIES have enjoyed pay rises of more than 15 per cent since the start of the recession - twice the average increase for the rest of the workforce.

Salary rises could be boosted further as the economy improves and skilled personnel become more scarce, according to Alfred Marks, the employment agency.

A survey of more than 6,000 secretaries found there was one notable exception - in the City of London, where senior secretaries and personal assistants suffered a 10 per cent drop - bringing the average salary to pounds 15,500. In the West End, the pay of senior staff remained static at pounds 15,200. Their more junior colleagues in the City got a 4 per cent increase to pounds 14,400.

Secretaries in the Home Counties have done well since the start of the economic downturn in 1988, with their salaries increasing in real terms by around 20 per cent.

The West Midlands was the best-performing region in 1993 in most categories.

An exceptional real increase of 20 per cent was reported for telephonists, receptionists and telex operators in the North- west, bringing the average salary to pounds 8,300 and redressing two years of salary reductions in 1991 and 1992.

Survey of Secretarial and Clerical Salaries (Winter 1993- 94), published by Alfred Marks, 178-202 Great Portland Street, London W1N 6JJ.