The PayScale Index (US): Trends in Compensation

2012: Earnings for workers in the business operation support services industry have been steadily growing since 2010, and the beginning of 2012 continued that trend. Q1 2012 ended with quarter-over-quarter wage increases of 0.6 percent and annual wage growth of more than 1 percent.

2007-2011: The business operations industry encompasses many commonly outsourced functions, like security, janitorial, and recruiting services.

Through 2007 and 2008 wages did rise in this industry, but about 1 percent slower than wages nationwide. Earnings peaked at the end of 2008, then dropped during 2009, eventually entering 2010 about 1 percent below the peak and holding steady throughout that year. Growth came in 2011, but only about 0.5 percent for the year.

The tendency during the recession for companies to limit their overhead likely added to downward pressure on business operation wages.

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The business operation support services industry (56), as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), includes the following: office administrative services, facilities support services, employment placement agencies, telephone call centers, collection agencies, travel agencies. View the full definition on Census.gov.

The PayScale Index tracks quarterly changes in total cash compensation for full-time, private industry employees in the United States. In addition to a national index, it includes separate indices for specific industries, metropolitan areas, job categories, and company sizes. The PayScale Index uses 2006 average total cash compensation as a baseline.

See full methodology for compensation trend reports.

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