Philadelphia CFOs Report Fourth-Quarter Hiring Plans

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nine percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Philadelphia area expect to add new professional-level positions in the fourth quarter, according to the Philadelphia Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Fifteen percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 4 percent plan to reduce staff levels. Another 71 percent said they will hire for roles that open during the next three months.

Most executives are optimistic about their business prospects for the fourth quarter. Nearly nine in 10 (89 percent) of CFOs expressed confidence in their companies' growth potential for the quarter, with 34 percent of respondents saying they are very confident.

The survey suggests, however, that organizations looking to expand and add staff may face difficulties. More than half of the CFOs surveyed, 59 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

"Businesses are generally optimistic about their growth prospects and, as a result, they're focused on retaining their current talent and attracting new candidates with hard-to-find skill sets," said Lori Hourigan, regional vice president for Robert Half in Philadelphia. "The local service sector is also gaining momentum, and we are seeing many initiatives that were postponed during the recession starting to pick up again."

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 Philadelphia area with 20 or more employees.

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

Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. Find more information at www.roberthalf.com.

Note to editors: To speak with a local expert on employment trends in the Philadelphia area, please contact Stephanie Sweet at (617) 330-1651.

SOURCE Robert Half International Inc.