Boston CIOs Plan To Increase Hiring In The Second Half Of 2017

BOSTON, June 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston-area technology hiring is on the rise for the second half of 2017, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. Twenty percent of CIOs say they plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams — a 2 percent increase from the first half of 2017. In addition to hiring plans, the report also highlights skills in demand, CIOs' top concerns and factors contributing to local hiring growth.

"The market is favorable for job candidates right now — something we've seen consistently over the past year," said Greg Bigelow, metro market manager for Robert Half Technology in Boston. "Highly skilled tech candidates are in great demand, specifically in the education and health services industries as companies continue to transform their business by becoming more agile, mobile and flexible with cloud-based solutions."

Hiring Plans and Challenges
In addition to the 20 percent of Boston CIOs who plan to bring on more IT talent during the next six months, an additional 69 percent expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. An active hiring environment is contributing to a competitive market for IT talent: Sixty-one percent of Boston hiring leaders say that it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals in today's market.

Factors Leading to Tech Hiring in Boston
When asked what factors are most contributing to local hiring, nearly a third (30 percent) of respondents cited increased digital marketing initiatives. Other factors impacting tech hiring in Boston include:

• More businesses moving to the area, creating jobs in technology (29 percent)
• Increased cloud or big data initiatives (27 percent)
• Increased mobile initiatives (14 percent)

Skills in Demand
According to respondents, the skills in greatest demand within their organizations include:

1. Desktop support (60 percent)
2. Database management (57 percent)
3. Wireless network management (55 percent)
4. Network administration (53 percent)
5. Business intelligence/reporting services (53 percent)

Top Concerns
When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, 23 percent of Boston CIOs said they will be focused on upgrading existing systems for business efficiency. Other priorities will include:  

• Maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information (22 percent)
• Innovation or helping grow the business (22 percent)
• Staff retention (20 percent)
• Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (14 percent)

Bigelow added: "Software engineers, web developers and DevOps professionals are hard to find in most markets, but Boston especially. Companies in the area need to take a hard look at their internal on-boarding and recruitment process to ensure that they are finding and retaining their top talent. If not, they'll likely be left in the dust by competitors."

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 roberthalf.com/technology. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2017 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

Survey Methodology
The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. To ensure that companies from all segments were represented in the study, the sample was stratified by number of employees. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology

Related Links

http://www.roberthalf.com/technology