Moderate Job Creation to Continue Predicts America's Hiring Managers

NEW YORK, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hiring expectations have rebounded from six months ago when elevated uncertainty gripped the economy, according to a national survey conducted by Dice Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DHX), a leading provider of specialized career websites for professional communities.

More than half (51%) of hiring managers and recruiters say they plan additional hiring during the second half of 2012, as compared to the first half of 2012.  This outcome is an improvement from expectations at year-end when 47 percent of hiring managers believed additional hiring would occur in the first half of 2012 and identical to respondents' expectations one year ago.

Hiring managers and recruiters appear to be seeing improvement in the environment.  More than a quarter (26%) said current conditions have sparked an increase in their companies' and clients' hiring plans, up from 21 percent six months ago.  While those curtailing hiring plans declined to 23 percent from 30 percent over the same time frame. 

"The tilt back toward optimism continues to support modest job growth, despite the slower gains of the last few months," said Scot Melland, Chairman, President and CEO of Dice Holdings, Inc.  "However, the moderate job creation doesn't appear to have instilled enough confidence for professionals to change employers easily.  We have yet to see the surge in turnover that typically accompanies more than two years of consistent job growth."

When asked six months ago, 41 percent of corporate hiring managers predicted more employees would be leaving their companies in 2012, as compared to 2011.  Five months into the year, just 36 percent of corporate hiring managers are actually experiencing that increase in voluntary departures.    

It may be taking more to attract qualified professionals; nearly half (47%) of hiring managers and recruiters said salaries for newly filled positions have increased from last year.  That compares to 45 percent of respondents who said the same about existing employees.

"When confidence in available career opportunities is high and mobility restored, the retention race will heat up.  Right now, it's more harness racing than triple crown," said Mr. Melland.   

The hiring cycle remains elongated, but it appears some hiring managers and recruiters have seen improvement in time-to-fill open positions.  About a quarter of respondents (24%) said the timelines for employee acquisition have shortened, as compared to just 15 percent six months ago.  Still, more hiring managers and recruiters (35%) said timelines are lengthening, relative to late last year.

About the survey

From May 14 to May 18, 2012 Dice Holdings surveyed U.S. companies, government entities and recruiting firms from every region of the country who hire or recruit a variety of professionals. More than 1,000 hiring professionals responded to the email survey, with 75 percent identified as working for companies that recruit for their own needs. Of that group, 45 percent had more than 500 employees.

Survey Results

Table 1:  Do you anticipate you or your clients hiring more professionals in the second half of 2012 than the first half of 2012?

Table 2:   Has the current economic environment caused you or your clients to change hiring plans for the next six months?

Table 3:  Have voluntary departures increased at your company in 2012?
(Corporate Respondents-only)

Table 4:  What trend do you see in salaries for…

Table 5:  If you or your clients have positions to fill, has the time to fill open positions changed relative to last year?

About Dice Holdings, Inc.

Dice Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DHX) is a leading provider of specialized career websites for professional communities, including technology and engineering, financial services, energy, healthcare, and security clearance. Our mission is to help our customers source and hire the most qualified professionals in select and highly skilled occupations, and to help those professionals find the best job opportunities in their respective fields and further their careers. For more than 21 years, we have built our company by providing our customers with quick and easy access to high-quality, unique professional communities and offering those communities access to highly relevant career opportunities and information. Today, we serve multiple markets primarily in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.

SOURCE Dice Holdings, Inc.