Charlotte CIOs Reveal Hiring Plans For First Half Of 2015

Survey Finds 17 Percent of Area CIOs Plan to Expand IT Teams

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Dec 02, 2014, 08:13 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report for Charlotte shows that 17 percent of Charlotte-area chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed recently plan to expand their IT teams in the first half of 2015. These results are unchanged from the previous six-month period (July – December 2014). Another 66 percent plan to hire only for open IT roles, 13 percent plan to put hiring plans on hold, and 3 percent expect to reduce their IT staff in the first half of the year.

Charlotte IT hiring forecast for the first half of 2015. Survey by Robert Half Technology.

Charlotte IT Hiring Forecast	July – Dec. 2014	Jan. – June 2015*
CIOs adding more staff to IT departments	17%	17%
CIOs planning to hire only for open IT roles	77%	66%
CIOs who plan to put IT hiring plans on hold	4%	13%
CIOs who plan to reduce their IT staff	2%	3%
Don't know future hiring plans	0%	0%

*Numbers do not total 100 percent due to rounding.

View an infographic of the research findings.

"We have seen hiring for IT professionals remain consistent through the end of the year and as we head into 2015," said Lucy Marino, Charlotte metro market manager of Robert Half Technology. "We are seeing opportunities in the software, medical and manufacturing spaces, and employers are seeking skilled talent for developer and database roles, among others, in the Charlotte area."

The 2015 hiring projections are based on interviews with 100 CIOs who were asked to provide a six-month hiring outlook. The surveys were developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. In order 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 Charlotte 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, 63 percent of Charlotte 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 software development (30 percent), networking (16 percent) and application development (13 percent).

Confidence in Business Growth

The survey results suggest that Charlotte CIOs are optimistic about their companies' growth. Eighty-five percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the first half of the year. This compares to 91 percent in the second half of 2014.

Skills in Demand

Sixty-six percent of Charlotte technology executives surveyed said that database management is among the skill sets in greatest demand within their IT departments. Network administration and Windows administration followed, with 63 percent and 53 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 rht.com. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2015 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

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SOURCE Robert Half Technology