17 Percent Of Boston CFOs Say Their Companies Will Hire For New Positions In Next Six Months
Survey Finds More Companies Willing to Negotiate Salary With Top Job Candidates
BOSTON, Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventeen percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Boston area report their companies will be creating new jobs in the next six months, according to the Boston Professional Employment Forecast From Robert Half. Seventy-eight percent of finance executives said they will be maintaining personnel levels, adding staff only to fill vacated positions. Four percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 1 percent plan to reduce staff levels.
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 are based on interviews with 100 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the Boston area with 20 or more employees. Executives were asked about their hiring and business outlook, including plans to add professional-level employees, for example, staff in the accounting, human resources, administrative, legal, marketing and information technology fields.
CFOs were asked, "What are your company's hiring plans for full-time professional-level employees in the next six months?" Their responses:
| Expanding – adding new positions |
17% |
| Maintaining – only filling vacated positions |
78% |
| Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones |
4% |
| Reducing – eliminating positions |
1% |
| 100% |
View an infographic featuring the survey results.
"We are seeing growth in most industries and companies in Boston, and those that want to stay ahead of the curve need to be focused on retaining and recruiting top talent now," said Bill Driscoll, district president for Robert Half in Boston. "Candidates with specialized skill sets are getting harder to find, and employers need to move quickly in the hiring process if they want the best people working for them and not their competitor."
Recruiting Challenges
The survey results suggest organizations looking to expand and add staff may face difficulties. The majority of CFOs surveyed, 52 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.
Business Confidence
Executives are optimistic about their business prospects. More than nine in 10 (92 percent) CFOs expressed confidence in their company's growth potential for the next six months, with close to half (45 percent) of respondents saying they are very confident.
Spotlight on Salary Negotiations
In another sign the job market is heating up, many employers appear to be negotiating more frequently with top job candidates. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they're more willing to negotiate salaries than they were 12 months ago, compared to just 7 percent who are less willing.
About Robert Half
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. The Menlo Park-based company has more than 340 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search and management tools at roberthalf.com. For career and management advice, follow our blog at blog.roberthalf.com.
Note to editors: To speak with a local expert on employment trends in the Boston area, please contact Lisa Montagna at (727) 576-7717.
SOURCE Robert Half
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article