San Diego CFOs Expect Increased Hiring In Next Six Months

Survey Finds Nearly 40 Percent of San Diego Companies Are Modifying Compensation Levels

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Sep 08, 2015, 08:10 ET

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego executives expect professional-level hiring to pick up in the next six months, according to the just-released San Diego Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Sixteen percent of San Diego chief financial officers (CFOs) anticipate their company will create new jobs in the next six months, up seven points from the previous six-month period. Another 70 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:

San Diego Professional Employment Forecast Fall/Winter 2016

	Sept. 2015 – Feb. 2016*	March – Aug. 2015
Expanding – adding new positions	16%	9%
Maintaining – only filling vacated positions	70%	71%
Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	11%	16%
Reducing – eliminating positions	3%	4%
Don't know/no answer	1%	0%
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.

View an infographic featuring the survey results.

"The San Diego hiring outlook is strong, and we're seeing particularly high demand for skilled candidates in the construction, property management, healthcare, biotech and technology business sectors," said Brett Good, senior district president for Robert Half in San Diego. "As a result, companies are working quickly to hire top candidates, placing emphasis on competitive compensation and benefits packages."

Recruiting Challenges
Organizations looking to add staff may face difficulties, Robert Half's research shows. Fifty-four percent of San Diego CFOs surveyed said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today. This compares to 49 percent in the previous six months.

Business Confidence
According to the Professional Employment Forecast, San Diego CFOs are optimistic about their company's growth. Eighty-five percent of executives reported being somewhat or very confident in their company's prospects for growth in the next six months. This compares to 83 percent in the previous six months.

Compensation Upgrades
To address staffing challenges, many firms are strengthening the salary and benefits they offer. Thirty-eight percent of San Diego CFOs surveyed said they have modified their company's compensation plan in the past 12 months as a way to enhance recruiting and retention efforts.

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 San Diego area with 20 or more employees. Executives were asked about their hiring and business outlook, including plans to add professional-level employees in areas such as accounting, human resources, administrative, legal, marketing and information technology.

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 roberthalf.com/san-diego.

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SOURCE Robert Half