Philadelphia Ranks Among Top 12 Cities For Tech Hiring In First Half Of 2018

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology hiring in Philadelphia is expected to start strong in 2018, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. Twenty-four percent of CIOs surveyed here said they plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the first half of the new year, up seven percentage points from this time last year. In addition to hiring plans, the report also highlights technology skills in demand and CIOs' top priorities for the first six months of the year.

"CIOs in Philadelphia are already thinking about the future when it comes to adding new team members and getting new projects off the ground," said Maria Incollingo, division director for Robert Half Technology in Philadelphia. "We are seeing increased demand for developers, information security professionals and, in particular, skilled network and telecommunications candidates who can help with upgrading hardware and software across the organization."

Top 12 Cities for Tech Hiring in 2018
In addition to the forecasted 24 percent hiring growth, 66 percent of technology leaders here expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. The demand for talent places Philadelphia on the list of U.S. cities where tech hiring is expected to grow the most in the first half of 2018:

1. San Diego
2. Atlanta
3. New York
4. Austin, Texas
5. Charlotte, North Carolina
6. Minneapolis
7. Philadelphia
8. Des Moines, Iowa
9. Miami
10. Cleveland
11. Phoenix
12. Salt Lake City

Hiring Challenges and Skills in Demand
It continues to be a competitive hiring environment: 66 percent of CIOs in Philadelphia said that it's challenging to find skilled IT professionals in today's market. The skills in greatest demand within their organizations, according to respondents, include:  

1. Network administration (54 percent)
2. Telecommunications support (53 percent)
3. Virtualization (51 percent)

Top Priorities
When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, 27 percent of Philadelphia CIOs said they will be focused upgrading existing systems for business efficiency. Other priorities will include:  

• Maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information (21 percent)
• Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (21 percent)
• Innovation or helping grow the business (20 percent)
• Staff retention (9 percent)

"The pressure to complete mission-critical projects is increasing and CIOs in Philadelphia looking to add to their teams should make strong and competitive offers to candidates who possess the skills their company needs," Incollingo continued. "Leaders who don't put their best offer on the table first, risk losing top talent to a competitor."

About Robert Half Technology
With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at roberthalf.com/technology. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2018 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

Survey Methodology
The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. To ensure that companies from all segments were represented in the study, the sample was stratified by number of employees. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology

Related Links

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