Compensation Planning Outlook
Each year, Signal49 Research’s Compensation Planning Outlook provides a trusted forecast for compensation and HR professionals across the country. This report gives the most up-to-date data, essential for any organization looking to secure the talent they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The data briefing for the Compensation Planning Outlook summarizes the results of Signal49 Research’s annual survey for non-unionized employees. Data for unionized employees will be captured in this year’s Labour Relations Outlook.
Page updated: February 10, 2026
Current releases
Pulse check
Compensation Planning Outlook Pulse Check
Our economic forecast suggested that the Canadian labour market showed signs of softening in 2025, as businesses scaled back hiring amid ongoing trade uncertainty and slowing population growth. Employment growth is expected to remain modest through the end of the year, with the goods-producing sector, particularly manufacturing, bearing much of the weakness.
February 10, 2026 • 6-min read
Part 2
Compensation Planning Equity and Transparency
The Canadian landscape around pay equity and pay transparency is shifting. Governments are an active part of this movement, as legal requirements and reporting become more widespread. However, employers are finding the value of pay equity and pay transparency for themselves.
November 17, 2025 • 10-min read
Part 1
Compensation Planning Outlook 2026
The Canadian landscape around pay equity and pay transparency is shifting. Governments are an active part of this movement, as legal requirements and reporting become more widespread. However, employers are finding the value of pay equity and pay transparency for themselves.
September 18, 2025 • 12-min read
About the Series
Salary guide for Canadian organizations.
The Compensation Planning Outlook research series provides Canadian organizations with up-to-date benchmarks on base pay and short-term incentive plans by industry, sector, region, and employee group. Two editions are released annually to help HR professionals understand how employers across Canada are compensating employees this year and planning for the year ahead. This allows organizations to continuously monitor their pay competitiveness and make informed decisions when budgeting for the future.
The fall edition is a forecast of salary increases and incentive pay for the upcoming year with reliable inflation projections from our economics team. This forecast is accompanied by a separate report that explores how Canadian employers are responding to pay equity and pay transparency requirements or emerging themes in compensation.
The mid-year update, known as Pulse Check, presents actual compensation data from the organizations surveyed in the fall edition. This update helps organizations assess whether compensation plans have shifted and provides a timely gauge of the pace of change in salary trends.
The analysis includes:
- twice-yearly data on projected base pay increases, incentive payout targets, types, and prevalence for the upcoming year, and planned salary freezes;
- future economic landscape and inflation projections from our economics team;
- a look at employer approaches to pay equity and transparency.
The Compensation Planning Outlook series has been produced since November 2000.
Methodology
The Compensation Planning Outlook summarizes the results of Signal49 Research’s annual Compensation Planning Survey, which gathers data on average salary projections, rewards priorities, business conditions, non-unionized and unionized pay, and short and long-term incentive pay.
This survey is sent to human resources professionals in predominately large and medium-sized Canadian organizations operating in a variety of regions, sectors, and industries. This outlook reports only on non-unionized compensation. Data for unionized employees is presented in the Labour Relations Outlook. All data was analyzed using R and SPSS statistical software.
Become a Survey Participant
Sign-up to be notified when the Compensation Planning Outlook survey is available for participation next year. Participation allows you to receive Compensation Planning Outlook for free.
I can always count on Signal49 Research to give me the most up-to-date and accurate salary planning data. Year after year, I eagerly await this trusted publication to plan my company’s salary range adjustments and merit budget.
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Questions?
If you have any questions about the Compensation Planning Outlook series, or about becoming a subscriber, please contact us.