According to a survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), 81% of Indian employees intend to ask their employers for salary increases over the next 12 months. This represents a significant increase from 67% in 2025 and is notably higher than the global average of 62%. The findings indicate growing pressure on employers as inflation and higher household expenses continue to strain personal finances, with rising living costs driving the increased demand for salary adjustments. The survey, conducted in August 2024, covered 9,202 people aged 18-64 employed at organizations with more than 500 employees across 23 locations worldwide, including India.
The survey revealed that only 29% of Indian employees are satisfied with their current salaries, compared with 36% worldwide. This lower satisfaction level in India contributes to the high demand for pay increases, with cost-of-living concerns ranking as the second-largest workplace issue after fears of jobs being replaced by technology. The findings highlight that salary satisfaction levels in India are below the global average, reflecting the challenging economic environment and rising living costs that are driving employee expectations for compensation adjustments. The survey spanned multiple countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, UAE, UK and the U.S.
Millennials emerged as the most aggressive in seeking salary increases, with 90% planning to negotiate higher pay compared to 77% of Gen Z employees and 75% of Gen X workers. According to the ACCA report, Indian employees are also expecting larger pay increases than their global peers, with 68% expecting salary hikes of more than 10% versus 37% globally. Among those expecting double-digit raises, Gen X employees recorded the highest expectations at 76%, followed by Gen Z at 60% and Millennials at 55%. The strong demand from younger workers reflects their focus on improving take-home pay and career advancement opportunities as technology reshapes roles and skills requirements.
The report indicates that compensation remains the most important factor for employees, especially younger professionals focused on improving take-home pay and career advancement opportunities. However, mid-career professionals are increasingly placing equal importance on meaningful work and career satisfaction. As reported by ACCA, employers are now facing mounting pressure to balance rising wage expectations with profitability and employee retention strategies. The survey highlights that cost-of-living concerns remain one of the biggest workplace issues globally in 2026, particularly affecting Indian employees who are seeking compensation adjustments to maintain their standard of living amid rising living costs and technological changes in the workplace.
