2010: For those who haven’t jumped from upstairs yet, are there any signs of a salary increase?

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\"Where Are Salaries Headed in 2010: Analysis Suggests Raises May Be an Inevitable Trend,\" First Financial Daily. According to the latest statistics from Zhihui Human Resources Management Consulting Company, about 26% of companies last year opted to reduce salaries or withhold any salary increases. However, this situation has seen a positive turn this year. 　　The latest research findings indicate that salary increases in China are expected to be 7.0% in 2010. The companies participating in the survey believe that salary increases in 2010 will be higher than those in 2009, with the overall increase expected to be 1–3 percentage points higher than in 2009. 　　At present, first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are offering substantial salary increases; many technology companies have given all their employees a raise of 20% to 30% in the first quarter. Against this backdrop, Yang Bing, a senior consulting advisor at Zhongzhi Human Resources Management Consulting Company, told reporters that this represents a necessary adjustment resulting from low salary levels and a sluggish labor market over the long term; unless there are significant changes in economic policies, salary increases in 2010 will be an inevitable trend. 　　According to Yang Bing’s analysis, from a regional perspective, the business conditions of enterprises in the major first-tier cities have improved amid economic recovery, which has also contributed to a faster recovery in their salary levels. In second- and third-tier cities, structural adjustments in the industrial sector have led many enterprises to shift from a manufacturing-oriented approach to a research-oriented one, with greater incentives also being provided for talent. In addition, the South China region, which relies on export-oriented enterprises, the East China region where foreign-funded companies are concentrated, and some major cities in the north all experienced significant rebounds. 　　The reporter noted that among the nearly thousand companies that participated in the survey, all industries showed significant growth compared to 2009. The sectors with relatively high salary increases are the consumer goods industry and the healthcare industry. Their industry characteristics mean that they are less susceptible to economic fluctuations compared to other sectors, which is why they have ranked first in terms of salary growth for two consecutive years. 　　In addition, salary levels in the manufacturing sector are showing a clear trend of recovery. In the financial sector, which was heavily affected by the financial crisis, although the increase in salary levels is not significant, it represents a marked improvement compared to the situation in 2009 when most companies reduced or did not adjust salaries at all. So, what’s the situation with chemical companies across the country now?