IOC operators in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq needed reliable, role-specific compensation data to support pay decisions, but no standard global survey covered the KRI market specifically. The local labour market had also undergone rapid change, including layoffs and NGO downsizing, making real-time data essential. Clients required dual benchmarks covering both local Kurdish nationals and international expatriate professionals, across a wide range of disciplines and seniority levels.
WRS developed a bespoke salary benchmarking service drawing on proprietary data sources unavailable through generic surveys. Using a database of over 580,000+ active candidate profiles, real-time market intelligence gathered from a cross-section of all active operators in Kurdistan, and historical placement data from actual WRS placements across disciplines and seniority levels, WRS produced comprehensive compensation reports for key Oil and Gas operators. Each report provided separate analysis for local Kurdish national and international expatriate roles, with full coverage across all major disciplines.
Both clients received comprehensive, role-by-role benchmarking reports aligned to their compensation review and workforce planning needs. This included:
- Day rate and salary ranges: Ad hoc and permanent rates for both local and expatriate roles
- KRI marketing insights: Labour dynamics, outsourcing trends, and salary negotiation intelligence
- Role-by-role coverage: Management, Drilling, HSE, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, Engineering, Operations
- Benefits Mapping: Standard local Kurdish employment benefits and expatriate packages documented
The engagement enabled oil and gas operators to align salary packages with real KRI market rates, supporting talent attraction, retention, and pay equity. It delivered unique market intelligence on labour dynamics and negotiation conditions that is unavailable from generic global surveys. It provided a data-driven foundation for budgeting and headcount decisions specifically aligned to the market. The engagement demonstrated WRS’s capability as a strategic HR advisory partner, extending well beyond its core recruitment offer.
