Los Angeles CFOs Reveal Hiring Plans For Next Six Months

Survey Finds Ninety-One Percent of Executives Are Somewhat or Very Confident in Their Companies' Prospects for Growth

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Apr 02, 2015, 08:10 ET

LOS ANGELES, April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The just-released Los Angeles Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half indicates 19 percent of Los Angeles chief financial officers (CFOs) expect their companies to create new jobs in the next six months. Another 64 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:

	Sept. 2014 – Feb. 2015	March – Aug. 2015
Expanding – adding new positions	20%	19%
Maintaining – only filling vacated positions	65%	64%
Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	9%	13%
Reducing – eliminating positions	5%	4%
Don't know/no answer	1%	0%

"The greater Los Angeles hiring outlook is strong, and there are good opportunities for professional-level candidates looking to progress in their careers," said Brandi Britton, district director for Robert Half in Los Angeles. "With the rapid growth that many companies are experiencing, businesses are promoting from within and hiring in-demand talent externally, which are good signs for all. We're finding employers need help from specialized staffing experts to locate highly skilled professionals quickly."

Recruiting Challenges
Organizations looking to add staff may face difficulties, Robert Half's research shows. Sixty-three percent of Los Angeles CFOs surveyed 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, Los Angeles CFOs are optimistic about their companies' growth. Ninety-one 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 Los Angeles 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