Salary development 2020: Sales & Marketing division expects salary increase and bonuses
The consulting firm Robert Walters has published its salary survey, highlighting key trends in the executive job market in Switzerland. In the marketing and sales sector, about 78 percent of professionals expect a pay raise, and 81 percent anticipate a bonus. In addition to a good work-life balance, salary and benefits are considered particularly important for job satisfaction.
Throughout 2019, Switzerland was the scene of strong demand for middle management profiles. In the German- and French-speaking regions, candidates with specialist skills were in high demand.
This dynamic can be explained in particular by the digital transformation. Indeed, Swiss companies have sought to improve their operational efficiency by focusing on data. As a result, many companies have recruited specialists in the fields of data analysis and big data.
In German-speaking Switzerland, the top management market has remained relatively quiet due to high wage costs. Most companies have therefore focused their recruitment on middle management rather than top management.
In French-speaking Switzerland, an increase in recruitment in the commodities trading sector was noted, particularly due to the establishment of new companies in the Geneva region.
Wages at the center of the decision-making process?
In general, the level of remuneration in Switzerland has remained constant, including in the area of Sales & Marketing. Salaries have mainly risen in the IT sector and in niche areas for which highly specialized profiles are sought.
"Companies have continued to develop new strategies to attract and retain talent, for example by introducing flexible working solutions (60 percent or 80 percent of jobs) and a greater number of days off. Even though salary is a very important factor for job satisfaction for 38 percent of Swiss professionals, the most important factor is a good work-life balance (very important for 53 percent of Swiss professionals), closely followed by an interesting content of daily work (50 percent)," explains Christian Atkinson, Director Robert Walters Switzerland.
According to the study, salary and benefits are the most important factor in the Sales & Marketing sector with 96%. However, a good work-life balance is also very important for 93% of professionals.
In 2020, the focus is on expert profiles
The labor market should remain solid this year and remain unaffected by the global economic uncertainties. Large international companies and SMEs will continue to invest in recruitment, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, banking, financial services and medical sciences. In addition, SMEs in Switzerland will benefit from local tax cuts, which may lead to an increase in recruitment.
"In 2020, the strongest growth is expected for expert profiles in the areas of tax, regulation, compliance, law and IT. In addition, the development of new ways of working will continue, with particular appeal for interim management, which will become increasingly popular to meet companies' needs for flexibility, profitability and expertise," adds Christian Atkinson, Director Robert Walters Switzerland.
The study reveals that the positions of eCommerce Manager, Key Account Manager and Digital Marketing Manager will be particularly in demand in the area of Sales & Marketing.
67% of managers are confident about the future: 61% of professionals in Switzerland expect to receive a pay rise this year. Around 78% of professionals in the sales & marketing sector expect a pay rise, 81% expect a bonus.
Robert Walters Switzerland is a company in the field of specialized personnel recruitment and provides personnel for middle and top management in the fields of Accounting & Finance, Legal & Fiscal, Banking & Financial Services, Technology and Sales & Marketing. The 21st edition of the Robert Walters Salary Survey provides an overview of global salary and recruitment trends. The results for Switzerland are based on a survey of 300 Swiss managers.
