Chicago CIOs Plan To Significantly Increase Hiring In Second Half Of 2017

CHICAGO, June 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-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 — up nine points from December's report. In addition to hiring plans, the report also highlights technology skills in demand, CIOs' top concerns and factors contributing to local hiring growth. 

"The war for skilled tech professionals continues to intensify as job seekers have more choices than ever before," said Joseph McIntyre, district president of Robert Half Technology in Chicago. "As it's become more challenging to find and attract top talent, companies are starting to hire candidates with less experience and provide them with on-the-job training. In addition, more IT professionals are bolstering their soft skills for client-facing roles, broadening their career opportunities."

Hiring Plans and Challenges

According to the report, 20 percent of Chicago CIOs plan to bring on more IT talent during the next six months, and an additional 65 percent expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. An active hiring environment is contributing to a competitive market for IT talent: 67 percent of Chicago 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 Chicago

When asked what factors are most contributing to local hiring, more than a quarter (28 percent) of respondents said that more businesses are increasing digital marketing initiatives.
Other factors impacting tech hiring in Chicago include:

• Increased mobile initiatives (26 percent)
• More businesses moving to the area and creating jobs in technology (22 percent)
• Increased cloud or big data initiatives (20 percent) 

Skills in Demand                                                                                                                   

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

1. Desktop support (58 percent)
2. Telecommunications support (57 percent)
3. Network administration (55 percent)
4. Windows administration (55 percent)
5. Wireless network management (54 percent)

Top Concerns

 When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, nearly a third of Chicago CIOs (29 percent) said they will be focused on upgrading existing systems for business efficiency. Other priorities will include:  

• Staff retention (20 percent)
• Innovation or helping grow the businesses (19 percent)
• Maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information (17 percent)
• Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (15 percent)

"The high-tech sector, followed by education and healthcare, continue to be Chicago's hottest industries in terms of IT hiring," added McIntyre. "Projects such as data migration, software implementation and mobile applications development have become major drivers for hiring tech talent in Chicago."

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