Technology executives expect information technology (IT) hiring to continue in the first quarter of 2012, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. In the latest quarterly survey, 20 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) said they plan to expand their IT departments, and 10 percent expect cutbacks, for a net 10 percent projected increase in hiring activity. This is up four points from the previous quarter’s projections.
The IT Hiring Index and Skills Report is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees. Executives are asked whether their companies plan to increase or decrease the number of full-time IT personnel on their staff during the coming quarter. The survey is conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.
Key Findings
- The net 10 percent increase in anticipated IT hiring activity is up four points from a net 6 percent increase in hiring activity projected last quarter.
- Networking and IT security professionals are in greatest demand, according to survey respondents.
- Almost three quarters (73 percent) of CIOs said it’s challenging to find skilled professionals today, up seven points from the previous quarter.
- Eight-eight percent of CIOs are confident in their companies’ growth prospects in the next three months.
- Eighty-three percent of technology executives expressed confidence in their firms’ first-quarter investment in IT projects, rating the possibility of IT investment a 3 or higher on a five point scale, with 5 being most confident.
“The employment market for IT professionals has become more active, with many professionals looking for new opportunities,” said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. “The new year, especially, can be a time of transition as companies staff up and IT professionals take stock of their careers.”
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