The majority, or 58%, of UK HR professionals said they expect to receive a pay rise in 2018, according to a study from international recruitment firm Robert Walters.

The study also showed that the majority of employers in the UK do indeed intend to increase salaries for HR professionals, half of which plan between a 1% and 3% rise, and 20% exceeding that at 4% to 6%.

According to Robert Walters, salaries could be driven up by companies’ need for specialist HR skills, particularly in the areas of training and development, staff retention and salary and benefits.

“While demand has been consistent for generalist HR professionals, specialist candidates have been particularly highly sought after,” Nick Allwood, a senior manager at Robert Walters, said. “Employers are aware that retaining and upskilling their staff will be a priority, particularly if the final conditions of Brexit limit their access to talent from overseas. As such, HR specialists with a background in these areas are highly sought after.”

Meanwhile, 55% of HR professionals said they expected to receive a bonus this year.

“Salaries and bonus levels are still a significant priority for HR professionals, and employers will need to take a creative approach if they are unable to meet the expectations of staff in these areas,” Allwood said.