Global Knowledge has an article up with a new study analyziing the 2006 compensation and hiring trends for employers. There are some interesting facts and assertions in the article.

It appears professionals may have more negotiating power with employers than they think. Fifty-five percent of hiring managers surveyed for this year’s Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report said it was difficult to find qualified candidates 12 months ago; 81 percent said recruiting is equally or more challenging today. More than half of hiring managers who are having trouble recruiting cited a shortage of qualified professionals as the primary culprit. Nearly two-in-five hiring managers plan to increase starting salaries in the next year to attract new talent.

It also seems that employers are still a little hesitant about the marketplace and are not as willing as they were before the crash to give raises and incentives:

Although the balance of power may have shifted somewhat to favor highly skilled workers, employees themselves are still feeling cautious about the job market and are less willing to negotiate higher salaries. Four-in-ten survey respondents categorized the job market as difficult 12 months ago and 85 percent said it is equally or more challenging today. Nearly one-in-five workers said they are less likely to ask for more money from a potential employer in the next 12 months, and the number of those who were more likely to negotiate increased compensation dropped significantly compared to one year ago.

The basic finding of the study is that employers are less willing to give higher compensation, and employeers are less willing to ask for it. But with the talent pool available employees should not be hesitant to maximize their earning potential.