The Hay Group study of state employee compensation concluded that the state’s salaries and benefits overall are 29 percent behind the private sector market, and 10 percent behind other states. “The benefits offset some of that impact of the lower salaries but not all,” David Fulkerson, acting state director of human resources, told lawmakers this afternoon.

The study concluded, “The state should consider strategic salary increases of approximately 3 percent to improve competitiveness and help attract and retain employees in key jobs.” It also recommended increasing the state’s minimum, midpoint and maximum salaries in its pay ranges. It recommended no change in benefits.