Los Angeles CFOs Expect Hiring To Increase In Third Quarter

Survey Finds 68 Percent of Companies Experiencing Recruiting Challenges

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Jun 10, 2013, 11:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Professional-level hiring is expected to increase in the Los Angeles area in the third quarter, according to the Los Angeles Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Fourteen percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) surveyed anticipate adding new positions, up from 11 percent in the second quarter. Another 68 percent said they will hire for roles that open during the quarter.

Executives also are optimistic about their business prospects. More than nine in 10 (96 percent) CFOs expressed confidence in their company's growth potential for the quarter, with 45 percent of respondents saying they are very confident.

The survey suggests, however, organizations looking to expand and add staff may face difficulties. The majority of CFOs surveyed, 68 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

"Executives in Los Angeles are increasingly optimistic about where the local business market is headed and their growth prospects for the coming quarter," said Brett Good, senior district president for Robert Half in Los Angeles. "Companies are realizing that they need to hire and are taking the time to find professionals with strong skill sets that will best fit into the company culture. However, in this market, companies that take too long in the hiring process risk losing top candidates to other opportunities."

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 Los Angeles 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	14%	11%
Maintaining -- only filling vacated positions	68%	69%
Freezing -- not filling vacated positions or creating new ones __	13%	17%
Reducing -- eliminating positions	4%	2%
Don't know/no answer __	__1%	__1%
	100%	100%