Houston CFOs Expect Increased Hiring In Next Six Months

Survey Finds 96 Percent of Houston Companies Confident About Growth

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Sep 08, 2015, 08:10 ET

HOUSTON, Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston executives expect professional-level hiring to pick up in the next six months, according to the just-released Houston Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Twenty-two percent of local chief financial officers (CFOs) anticipate their company will create new jobs. Another 68 percent plan to hire for open roles.

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

Houston Professional Employment Forecast Fall/Winter 2016

	Sept. 2015 – Feb. 2016	March – Aug. 2015*
Expanding – adding new positions	22%	21%
Maintaining – only filling vacated positions	68%	65%
Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	8%	10%
Reducing – eliminating positions	2%	2%
Don't know/no answer	0%	3%
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.

View an infographic featuring the survey results.

"It's definitely an interesting time for many Houston companies, and we're seeing a bit of a dual hiring environment," said Phil Willingham, district president of Robert Half in Houston. "Employers in the healthcare, downstream, petrochemical, real estate and construction sectors are ramping up hiring and facing fierce competition for skilled talent. Not surprisingly, many energy companies are more cautious and making hiring decisions that allow for long-term flexibility."

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

Business Confidence
According to the Professional Employment Forecast, Houston CFOs are optimistic about their company's growth. Ninety-six percent of executives reported being somewhat or very confident in their company's prospects for growth in the next six months. This compares to 94 percent in the previous six months.

Compensation Upgrades
To address staffing challenges, some firms are strengthening the salary and benefits they offer. Thirty-eight percent of Houston CFOs surveyed said they have modified their company's compensation plan in the past 12 months as a way to enhance recruiting and retention efforts.

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 Houston area with 20 or more employees. Executives were asked about their hiring and business outlook, including plans to add professional-level employees in areas such as accounting, human resources, administrative, legal, marketing and information technology.

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 roberthalf.com/houston.

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SOURCE Robert Half