Bay Area CIOs Reveal Third-Quarter Hiring Plans

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Twelve percent of Bay Area technology executives surveyed recently expect to expand their IT teams in the third quarter of 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. This compares to 13 percent in the previous quarter. In addition, 61 percent plan to hire to fill open IT roles in the upcoming quarter, 22 percent plan to put hiring plans on hold, and 5 percent expect to reduce their IT staff in the third quarter.

In the same survey, 88 percent of Bay Area CIOs were optimistic about their companies' prospects for growth in the third quarter, and 67 percent felt confident in their firms' third-quarter investment in IT projects.                                                             

"Virtualization, system upgrades and business intelligence projects are fueling demand for IT professionals in the Bay Area," said Megan Slabinski, Bay Area district president of Robert Half Technology. "In particular, programmer analysts and system engineers are highly sought, and we're seeing increased IT hiring activity in the construction and high-tech industries."

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, 65 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 (18 percent), help desk/technical support (15 percent) and data/database management (12 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. Eighty-eight percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the third quarter of 2013. This compares to 89 percent in the previous quarter.

Sixty-seven percent of CIOs also said they were confident that their firms would invest in IT projects in the third quarter of 2013. This compares to 79 percent in the previous quarter.

Skills in Demand

Fifty-five percent of Bay Area technology executives surveyed said that database management is among the skill sets in greatest demand within their IT departments. Network administration and desktop support followed, with 53 percent and 50 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

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