Bay Area CIOs Reveal Fourth-Quarter Hiring Plans
Robert Half Technology Survey Finds Continued IT Hiring
MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report for the Bay Area shows that 13 percent of Bay Area chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed recently plan to expand their IT teams. This is up 1 point from the previous quarter's projections. Another 66 percent plan to hire only for open IT roles, 13 percent plan to put hiring plans on hold, and 5 percent expect to reduce their IT staff in the fourth quarter.
| Bay Area IT Hiring Forecast |
Q3 |
Q4 |
| CIOs adding more staff to IT departments |
12% |
13% |
| CIOs planning to hire only for open IT roles |
61% |
66% |
| CIOs who plan to put IT hiring plans on hold |
22% |
13% |
| CIOs who plan to reduce their IT staff |
5% |
5% |
| Don't know future hiring plans |
1% |
3% |
| *Numbers may not total 100 percent due to rounding. |
||
"The fourth quarter often brings many infrastructure changes and year-end projects," said Megan Slabinski, Bay Area district president of Robert Half Technology. "We're seeing companies looking to grow their permanent teams, which leads to more direct hires and contract-to-hire opportunities. Additionally, many Bay Area companies are willing to accelerate their hiring process in order to secure top tech talent; otherwise they risk losing out to competitors."
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 Bay 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 Bay 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, 64 percent of Bay Area 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 (22 percent), help desk/technical support (12 percent) and data/database management (11 percent).
Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
The survey results suggest that Bay Area CIOs are optimistic about their companies' growth and IT investments. Ninety percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter of 2013. This compares to 88 percent in the previous quarter.
Seventy-one 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 67 percent in the previous quarter.
Skills in Demand
Fifty-five percent of Bay Area technology executives surveyed said that network administration is among the skill sets in greatest demand within their IT departments. Database management and desktop support followed, both with 54 percent of the response.
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
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