St. Louis CFOs Report Third-Quarter Hiring Plans
Survey Finds Nearly 9 in 10 Companies Optimistic About Business Growth During Quarter
ST. LOUIS, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the St. Louis area expect to add new professional-level positions in the third quarter, according to the St. Louis Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Seventeen percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 6 percent plan to reduce staff levels. Another 67 percent said they will hire for roles that open during the next three months.
Most executives are optimistic about their business prospects for the third quarter. Nearly nine in 10 (89 percent) CFOs expressed confidence in their company's growth potential for the quarter, with one-third (33 percent)of respondents saying they are very confident.
The survey suggests, however, organizations looking to expand and add staff may face difficulties. Nearly half of all CFOs surveyed, 49 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.
"Hiring in the St. Louis area is being driven primarily by the healthcare, manufacturing and financial services industries," said Melinda Alison, regional vice president for Robert Half in St. Louis. "As local companies continue to experience incremental growth, they're frequently working with professionals on a temporary or project basis to gain greater staffing flexibility as business demands change."
The Professional Employment Forecast was developed by Robert Half, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, and conducted by an independent research firm. The local results reflect a two-quarter rolling average based on interviews with 200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the St. Louis area with 20 or more employees.
CFOs were asked, "What are your company's hiring plans for full-time professional-level employees in the third quarter?" Their responses:
| Third Quarter |
Second Quarter |
|
| Expanding -- adding new positions |
10% |
14% |
| Maintaining -- only filling vacated positions |
67% |
69% |
| Freezing -- not filling vacated positions or creating new ones |
17% |
15% |
| Reducing -- eliminating positions |
6% |
2% |
| Don't know/no answer |
1% |
0% |
| 101%* |
100% |
|
| *Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding. |
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. Find more information at www.roberthalf.com.
Note to editors: To speak with a local expert on employment trends in the St. Louis area, please contact Meghan Lockhart at (206) 749-0960.
SOURCE Robert Half
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