Houston CFOs Report Second-Quarter Hiring Plans

HOUSTON, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nineteen percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Houston area expect to add new professional-level positions in the second quarter, according to the Houston Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Another 62 percent said they will not be adding new positions but will fill roles that open in the next three months. Sixteen percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 3 percent plan to reduce staff levels.

The Professional Employment Forecast was developed by Robert Half, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on interviews with more than 100 CFOs from the Houston area at companies with 20 or more employees who were asked about their hiring plans for professional-level positions in the coming quarter.

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

"Houston is experiencing strong growth in the energy industry, leading to international and domestic investments in the concurrent development of local oil and gas, transportation, logistics, and construction projects," said Phil Willingham, district president for Robert Half in Houston. "With the added boost of many corporate and shared service center relocations to the area, the hiring outlook for skilled professionals has brightened."

Founded in 1948, Robert Half International, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, is a recognized leader in professional staffing services. The company's specialized staffing divisions include Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam, for highly skilled office and administrative support professionals; Robert Half Technology, for information technology professionals; Robert Half Legal, for legal personnel; and The Creative Group, for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Robert Half International has staffing and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide. Find more information at roberthalf.com, and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/roberthalf.

Note to editors: To speak with a local expert on employment trends in the Houston area, please contact Meghan Lockhart at (206) 749-0960.

SOURCE Robert Half International