CIOs Reveal Fourth-Quarter Hiring Plans

MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eleven percent of U.S. chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed recently say they will expand their IT teams in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. This compares to 12 percent in the previous quarter. In addition, 65 percent of CIOs plan to hire only for open IT roles, 19 percent expect to put hiring plans on hold, and 5 percent plan to reduce their IT staff in the fourth quarter.

In the same survey, 86 percent of CIOs said they are somewhat or very confident about their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter, and 64 percent said they are somewhat or very confident that their firms will invest in IT projects in the fourth quarter.

"IT hiring managers remain selective when hiring, but know they need to move fast to acquire top talent in hot specialty areas such as networking and help desk support," said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Nearly seven in 10 CIOs surveyed cited current recruiting difficulties. Many firms are increasing their focus on retention because candidates in these areas of IT can be hard to find."

The IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. The survey is based on more than 2,300 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees in 23 major metro areas. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

Recruiting Challenges
In terms of recruiting, 68 percent of CIOs said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals today. It is most difficult to find skilled talent in the functional areas of networking (19 percent), data/database management (13 percent) and help desk/technical support (12 percent).

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
The survey results suggest CIOs are largely optimistic: Eighty-six percent reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter of 2013; 64 percent said they are somewhat or very confident that their firms will invest in IT projects in the fourth quarter.

Skills in Demand
Among the technology executives surveyed, 54 percent said that desktop support was the skill set in greatest demand within their IT department. Network administration and database management followed, each with a response of 52 percent.

About Robert Half Technology
With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at www.rht.com. Visitors also can download a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2013 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology