Raleigh CIOs Reveal Hiring Plans for Second Half of 2014
Robert Half Technology Survey Finds Continued IT Hiring Through Year-End
RALEIGH, N.C., June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report for Raleigh shows that 15 percent of Raleigh-area chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed recently plan to expand their IT teams in the second half of 2014. This is up six points compared to projections from the previous six-month period (January – June 2014). Another 76 percent plan to hire only for open IT roles, 7 percent plan to put hiring plans on hold, and 1 percent expect to reduce their IT staff in the second half of the year.
Raleigh IT Hiring Forecast |
Jan. – June |
July – Dec. |
2014 |
2014* |
|
CIOs adding more staff to IT departments |
9% |
15% |
CIOs planning to hire only for open IT roles |
65% |
76% |
CIOs who plan to put IT hiring plans on hold |
23% |
7% |
CIOs who plan to reduce their IT staff |
1% |
1% |
Don't know future hiring plans |
2% |
0% |
*Numbers do not total 100 percent due to rounding. |
"An uptick in automation projects and software upgrade initiatives is driving the need for skilled IT professionals in Raleigh," said Zane Sosna, Raleigh branch manager of Robert Half Technology. "A number of healthcare and SaaS companies, in particular, are adding to the opportunities available, especially for tech professionals with Microsoft-oriented software development skills and a deep knowledge of automation or process improvement skills."
The 2014 hiring projections are based on interviews with 100 CIOs who were asked to provide a six-month hiring outlook. The surveys were developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. In order to ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper number of employees in the greater metropolitan Raleigh area. Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis and has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.
Recruiting Challenges
In terms of recruiting, 64 percent of Raleigh CIOs said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals today. It is most challenging to find skilled talent in the functional areas of networking (29 percent), applications development (19 percent) and help desk/technical support (11 percent).
Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
The survey results suggest that Raleigh CIOs are optimistic about their companies' growth and IT investments. Eighty-nine percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the second half of 2014. This compares to 84 percent in the first half of the year.
Sixty-six percent of CIOs also said they are confident that their firms will invest in IT projects in the second half of 2014. This compares to 70 percent in the first six months of the year.
Skills in Demand
Sixty percent of Raleigh technology executives surveyed said that desktop support is among the skill sets in greatest demand within their IT departments. Network administration and wireless network management followed, with 53 percent and 44 percent of the response, respectively.
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 rht.com. Follow Robert Half Technology at twitter.com/RobertHalfTech or visit our technology blog at blog.rht.com.
SOURCE Robert Half Technology
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