China, India and Eastern Europe will top the global pay rise ladder in 2007, according to research from global management consultancy Hay Group.

The research reveals that economic acceleration in India and China is having a dramatic impact on pay packets. China tops the table, with a predicted 7.9% increase for administrative workers, 7.8% for professionals and an impressive 8.9% for senior management. 

It says that extremely high pay rises in India last year, 7.2% across the board, look set to continue into 2007.

The Hay Group report exposes a revealing pay divide in Europe, with real pay in Eastern Europe accelerating at a rate far above that in the West. 

By contrast, salary increases in the West will be much more moderate in 2007. Workers in the major continental economies - Germany, Italy, Spain and France - face predicted increases below 1.5%.

British workers can expect only a 1.5% real increase across the board, with real wage rises highest for professionals (1.7%). Senior managers will receive increases of 1.5%, administrative staff just 1.2%.