Only 29 per cent of Indian employees are satisfied with their current pay levels, while a large majority are planning to seek salary hikes over the next 12 months amid rising cost-of-living concerns, according to a survey report by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

The report stated that the cost of living continues to remain one of the top work-related concerns globally in 2026 and is the second biggest concern among Indian employees after fears around jobs being replaced by technology.