|
By Mel Duvall
CIOs remain in a conservative hiring mood as they look forward to the final months of the year, according to a new report from hiring firm Robert Half Technology. But CIOs with companies on the East Coast and those in the business services industry are the most optimistic about adding staff.
In surveying more than 1,400 CIOs and technology executives, Robert Half found that just 6 percent plan to add staff to their technology teams. The majority of respondents, 86 percent, foresee no changes in personnel levels, while 6 percent anticipate further staff reductions.
"Businesses are cautious about adding employees, especially if they're watching budgets for the remainder of the year," Robert Half executive director Dave Willmer said in a statement. "Companies that are hiring seek candidates with diverse skill sets who can help teams operate with fewer resources. Employers are willing to invest greater time in the recruiting process to find individuals who meet all of their criteria."
CIOs who expect to add staff were also the most confident about their ongoing needs. Among those saying they will hire in the fourth quarter, 61 percent said they would be bringing on full-time employees, up from 52 percent in the third quarter. Nine percent of respondents said they will be adding a combination of full-time and contract or project workers.
When asked which technical skill sets are most in demand in their IT departments, 69 percent cited network administration, while 64 percent said desktop support; 61 percent identified a need for Windows administration expertise. Help desk/technical support and networking are the two job areas experiencing the most growth, followed by applications development.
On a regional basis, CIOs in New England and the South Atlantic report that they expect to see a net 4 percent increase in projected hiring. New England CIOs pointed to a need for customer/end-user support as a key driver of hiring activity, while those in the South Atlantic region indicated that hiring was being fueled by corporate growth or expansion.
CIOs in the business services sector are most optimistic about hiring in the fourth quarter, with 20 percent planning to add staff and just 3 percent expecting reductions. The transportation, communications and utilities sector was next, with 13 percent of CIOs planning to add staff while 2 percent forecast job cuts.
In a separate report this week, outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas reported there were 2,386 announced job cuts in the technology and communications sectors in August. That was an 88 percent decline from the 20,628 announced in July.
Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
