Cleveland/Akron/Canton CFOs Report Third-Quarter Hiring Plans

Survey Finds Majority of Companies Optimistic About Business Growth During Quarter

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Jun 10, 2013, 09:00 ET

CLEVELAND, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area expect to add new professional-level positions in the third quarter, according to the Cleveland Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Sixteen percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 4 percent plan to reduce staff levels. Another 70 percent said they will hire for roles that open during the next three months.

Most executives are optimistic about their business prospects for the third quarter. Nine in 10 (91 percent) CFOs expressed confidence in their company's growth potential for the quarter, with 41 percent of respondents saying they are very confident.

The survey suggests, however, organizations looking to expand and add staff may face difficulties. Nearly half of CFOs surveyed, 49 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

"Hiring has remained steady in areas where we are seeing a shortage of candidates," said Chuck Cave, senior regional vice president for Robert Half in Cleveland. "We continue to see a demand for entry-level accountants with strong technical skills on a temporary basis as well as staff accountants and controllers in the manufacturing industry on a full-time basis."

The Professional Employment Forecast was developed by Robert Half, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, and conducted by an independent research firm. The local results reflect a two-quarter rolling average based on interviews with 200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area with 20 or more employees.

CFOs were asked, "What are your company's hiring plans for full-time professional-level employees in the third quarter?" Their responses:

	Third Quarter	Second Quarter
Expanding -- adding new positions	9%	10%
Maintaining -- only filling vacated positions	70%	71%
Freezing -- not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	16%	15%
Reducing -- eliminating positions	4%	3%
Don't know/no answer	1%	1%
	100%	100%

Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. Find more information at www.roberthalf.com.

Note to editors: To speak with a local expert on employment trends in the
Cleveland/Akron/Canton area, please contact Lisa Montagna at (727) 576-7717.

SOURCE Robert Half