Employers in Northern Colorado forecast a 2.6-percent wage increase for employees next year, tying metro Denver for the highest average projections in the state, according to a new survey.
By comparison, Colorado Springs and Pueblo employers predicted a 2.1-percent wage hike. Western Slope businesses forecasted a 2.3-percent increase.

Employers statewide expected to give a 2.5-percent wage increase, the survey, released Tuesday by the Mountain States Employers Council, found.

The survey is based on responses from nearly 500 employers representing a variety of industries, including those in government, manufacturing, natural resources, nonprofit, technology, finance and insurance. More than half of respondents came from organizations with less than 250 staffers.

"The good news is that employers continue to look positively on annual salary increases for next year," Patty Goodwin, director of surveys for Mountain States Employers Council, said in a statement. "Our hope is that Colorado business leaders incorporate the projections from our annual survey into their total compensation planning."

Anticipating the highest raises of any industry, oil and natural-gas employers projected 4.2-percent raises while retail and wholesale businesses forecasted 3-percent increases. Projections remain lower than in 2008, when employers in those industries predicted 7.2- and 3.2- percent raises, respectively.

Public sector and construction industries anticipate the lowest percentage increases, with government expecting a 1.9-percent rise and construction a 2.3-percent increase.
The Mountain States Employers Council has 3,000 member-employers and offices in Fort Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs and Arizona.