Resignations amongst HR managers have increased in the year to January 2004 as movements in earnings stuttered, according to research by the Chartered Management Institute and Remuneration Economics.

The 2004 National Management Salary Survey reveals that despite a growth in the number of bonus payments, the average total bonus fell by almost £500, from £3,955 in 2003 to £3,509.

Combined earnings for HR managers rose by only 0.7 per cent, from £43,263 to £43,571.

This coincided with an increase in the number of resignations among HR managers, from 5% in 2003 to 6.2% in 2004.

Over-all managers in the chemical industry currently top the 'earnings league table' on £55,359 with those in retail earning the least (£35,748).