St. Louis CIOs Reveal Fourth-Quarter Hiring Plans

MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Six percent of St. Louis-area technology executives recently surveyed expect to 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 10 percent in the previous quarter. In addition, 70 percent plan to hire only for open IT roles in the upcoming quarter, 17 percent plan to put hiring plans on hold, and 6 percent expect to reduce their IT staff in the fourth quarter.

In the same survey, 83 percent of St. Louis chief information officers (CIOs) were optimistic about their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter, and 62 percent felt confident in their firms' fourth-quarter investment in IT projects.

"Companies continue to look for IT professionals with specialized skills who can enhance efficiencies or improve customer experiences," said Joseph McIntyre, St. Louis regional vice president of Robert Half Technology. "Many companies are beginning to increase compensation and employee perks in an effort to retain top talent." 

The IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report results reflect a two-quarter rolling average based on interviews with 200 CIOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the St. Louis area with 100 or more employees. The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. In order for the study to ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper number of employees in the greater metropolitan St. Louis area. Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis and has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

Recruiting Challenges
In terms of recruiting, 65 percent of St. Louis CIOs said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals today. It is most challenging to find skilled talent in the functional areas of networking (17 percent), help desk/technical support (13 percent) and data/database management (12 percent).

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
The survey results suggest that St. Louis CIOs are optimistic about their companies' growth and IT investments. Eighty-three percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter of 2013. This is unchanged from the previous quarter.

Sixty-two percent of CIOs also said they were confident that their firms would invest in IT projects in the fourth quarter of 2013. This compares to 57 percent in the previous quarter.

Skills in Demand
Fifty-six percent of the St. Louis technology executives surveyed said that network administration is among the skill sets in greatest demand within their IT departments. Desktop support and Windows administration followed, with 55 percent and 54 percent of the response, respectively.

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 can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2013 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology