Phoenix CFOs Report Third-Quarter Hiring Plans

Survey Finds Majority of Companies Optimistic About Business Growth During Quarter

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Jun 10, 2013, 11:00 ET

PHOENIX, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nineteen percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Phoenix area expect to add new professional-level positions in the third quarter, according to the Phoenix Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Twelve percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 6 percent plan to reduce staff levels. Another 63 percent said they will hire for roles that open during the next three months.

Most executives are optimistic about their business prospects for the third quarter. More than eight in 10 (83 percent) CFOs expressed confidence in their company's growth potential for the quarter, with 42 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, 54 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

"A common misconception is jobs are easy to fill in this market, but executives continue experiencing difficulty finding skilled candidates," said Andrew Ernst, regional vice president for Robert Half in Phoenix. "Notably, we're seeing demand for new graduates with accounting or finance degrees who can fill core positions such as accountant and financial analyst."

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 Phoenix 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	19%	17%
Maintaining -- only filling vacated positions	63%	70%
Freezing -- not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	12%	10%
Reducing -- eliminating positions	6%	3%
	100%	100%