Des Moines CFOs Reveal Hiring Plans For Next Six Months

Survey Finds 94 Percent of Des Moines CFOs Confident in Company Growth Prospects

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Apr 02, 2015, 08:10 ET

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The just-released Des Moines Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half indicates 15 percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Des Moines area expect their companies to create new jobs in the next six months. Another 77 percent plan to hire for open positions, compared to 74 percent during the previous six months.

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

	Sept. 2014 – Feb. 2015	March – Aug. 2015
Expanding – adding new positions	17%	15%
Maintaining – only filling vacated positions	74%	77%
Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	7%	6%
Reducing – eliminating positions	2%	2%
Don't know/no answer	0%	0%

"We're seeing active hiring across several industries in Des Moines, including financial services, healthcare and manufacturing -- particularly from small-to-midsized firms," said Mike Gremmer, regional vice president for Robert Half in Des Moines. "Recruiting skilled candidates continues to be an ongoing challenge as a result of multiple developments that are creating the perfect storm: The Iowa unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country; local employers' hiring needs have increased dramatically over the past few years; and project work has increased as companies grow."

Recruiting Challenges
Organizations looking to add staff may face difficulties, Robert Half's research shows. Sixty-three percent of CFOs surveyed in Des Moines said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

Staffing issues remain a concern for companies. In a study by Protiviti and the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Initiative at the North Carolina State University Poole College of Management, board members and senior executives cited the ability to attract and retain top talent as one of the top risks facing their businesses. The majority of respondents, 56 percent, felt it had a significant impact on their organizations.

Business Confidence
According to the Professional Employment Forecast, Des Moines CFOs are optimistic about their companies' growth. Ninety-four percent of executives reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' growth prospects in the next six months.

About the Professional Employment Forecast
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-period rolling average based on interviews with 200 CFOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the Des Moines area with 20 or more employees. Executives were asked about their hiring and business outlook, including plans to add professional-level employees, for example, staff in the accounting, human resources, administrative, legal, marketing and information technology fields.

About Robert Half
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company has more than 340 staffing locations worldwide and offers online job search and management tools at roberthalf.com. For career and management advice, follow our blog at blog.roberthalf.com.

Robert Half is also the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm.

SOURCE Robert Half