Banks and financial services firms plan to hire more staff and raise salaries in 2013

The uncertain global economic climate has not deterred banking and financial services companies from planning to hire more staff and raise salaries this year.

According to salary reports released today by specialty recruiter firm Robert Half, 41 per cent of these companies intend to expand their headcount in the first half of the year.

A total of 45 per cent are looking to maintain their staff strength, with 9 per cent showing a hiring freeze and 5 per cent planning to cut jobs.

Over half of these firms intend to increase pay this year.

The reports are based on a survey of 300 chief financial officers and finance directors here, and actual placements and insights from Robert Half's recruiting managers.

Growing Asian banks are those tipped to be the most active in the job market, said Ms Stella Tang, director of Robert Half Singapore.

"Economic indicators are signalling that this is the Asian Century. Singapore, with its strategic location, is seen as the gateway to the booming Asian economies," said Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore president Ernest Kan.

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