75% of firms to freeze or cut pay

THREE out of four firms will keep wage bills static or cut them over the next three months, the Small Firms Association (SFA) Winter Jobs Sentiment Survey indicates.

The survey of 677 companies employing 14,237 indicates that 48% expect their total pay bill to remain at its current level in 2011, while 25% expect their pay bill to decrease.

SFA director Avine McNally said: “This shows that the focus on costs will remain in 2011.”