Seattle CFOs Reveal Hiring Plans For Next Six Months

Survey Finds 92 Percent of Seattle Companies Confident About Growth

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Sep 08, 2015, 08:10 ET

SEATTLE, Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The just-released Seattle Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half shows 11 percent of Seattle chief financial officers (CFOs) expect their company to create new jobs in the next six months. Another 76 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:

Seattle Professional Employment Forecast Fall/Winter 2016

	Sept. 2015 – Feb. 2016*	March – Aug. 2015*
Expanding – adding new positions	11%	13%
Maintaining – only filling vacated positions	76%	75%
Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	11%	10%
Reducing – eliminating positions	1%	2%
Don't know/no answer	1%	1%
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.

View an infographic featuring the survey results.

"As job growth continues to push ahead in Seattle, we're seeing businesses work harder than ever to attract and retain top performers through competitive salaries and other perks," said Josh Warborg, district president for Robert Half in Seattle. "There is a particular need for candidates in the technology, healthcare and finance sectors, especially in accounting, where we see a high demand for both temporary and full-time professionals."

Recruiting Challenges
Organizations looking to add staff may face difficulties, Robert Half's research shows. Fifty-eight percent of Seattle CFOs surveyed said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

Business Confidence
According to the Professional Employment Forecast, Seattle CFOs are optimistic about their company's growth. Ninety-two percent of executives reported being somewhat or very confident in their company's prospects for growth in the next six months. This compares to 91 percent in the previous six months.

Compensation Upgrades
To address staffing challenges, some firms are strengthening the salary and benefits they offer. Thirty-six percent of Seattle 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 Seattle 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/seattle-tacoma.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150904/263904-INFO

SOURCE Robert Half