MILLIONS of Brits are in for a pay rise this year in a rare bit of good news for workers.

Half of employers have already put up wages and another 40% are planning to, new research reveals.

Wages are set to rise on average by 3% in 2022, the highest in a decade, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

It comes as households face rocketing prices and inflation is set to hit 7% in April.

A pay rise of 3% would soften the impact, but still leave workers worse off in real terms.

Jonathan Boys, labour market economist for the CIPD, said: “Even though businesses anticipate making record pay awards to their employees this year, most people are set to see their real wages fall against the backdrop of high inflation. 

When inflation is high it means that more of your cash goes on things like food, bills and other essentials."

Employers have struggled to fill vacancies since the pandemic and Brexit, with some industries particular hard hit.

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A lack of HGV drivers contributed to stock shortages on supermarket shelves last year.

A third of vacancies remain hard to fill, according to the CIPD research which surveyed more than 1,000 employers about hiring and pay intentions for the year ahead.

It means that companies are increasing wages to attract recruits. Tesco, Amazon and Sainsbury's are among those to have offered joining bonuses.

The 3% wage rise this year is an average, and whether your pay will rise this year will depend on the company you work for.

Lidl and Aldi both announced at the end of last year that thousands of shop workers will be paid more.

Aldi said it will pay all store assistants at least £10.10, or £11.55 if members of staff live within the M25, from February.

Workers at Lidl now get up to £12.25 an hour.

Millions of Brits will get a pay rise in April when the National Living Wage will rise to £9.50 per hour.

Young people and apprentices will also see their wages boosted as the National Minimum Wage for people aged 21-22 goes up to £9.18 an hour and Apprentice Rate increases to £4.81 an hour.

Hundreds of thousands of workers who get the Real Living Wage have already been handed a rise and now get £9.90 per hour.

It means two million workers will get a £1,000 annual pay increase for a 35-hour week from next year.

The Real Living Wage is different from the minimum wage and companies sign up to it voluntarily.

Around 9,000 employers have agreed to pay these amounts, including Ikea, Irn Bru drinks maker AG Barr and Nestle.

Brits getting certain benefits will get a 3.1% rise on payments from April.

How to get a pay rise

It's always worth negotiating when it comes to pay rises – here are experts' top tips.

1. Do your research and show examples

First and foremost, it’s important you think through the reasons why you deserve a pay rise.

You'll need to be prepared, and should consider the ways you have gone above and beyond at work and use it as evidence.

It's also worth looking at job adverts for similar roles to your level and comparing what these pay.

2. Be confident

Confidence is also key when it comes to asking for a pay rise.

You can avoid coming across nervous by speaking slowly, making eye contact and by avoiding nervous giggles.

4. Champion yourself

Another way to increase your chances of getting a pay rise is by championing yourself and the work you do.

You could consider sharing updates on networks and websites such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

5. Be prepared for a negative answer

If you've prepared your case and the answer is still "no", don't take it personally.

Sometimes companies don't have the money to approve pay rises, especially with the pandemic, or it could seem unfair to other employees.

Here’s a recruiter's top tips for how you can get a new job or pay rise in 2022.

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