Seattle/Tacoma CFOs Report Third-quarter Hiring Plans

Survey Finds Nearly 9 in 10 Companies Optimistic About Business Growth During Quarter

News provided by

Jun 10, 2013, 11:00 ET

SEATTLE, June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nineteen percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Seattle/Tacoma area expect to add new professional-level positions in the third quarter, according to the Seattle/Tacoma Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Fourteen percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 2 percent plan to reduce staff levels. Another 64 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. Nearly nine in 10 (89 percent) CFOs expressed confidence in their company's growth potential for the quarter, with 40 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, 58 percent, said it is at least somewhat challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today.

"With consistent economic growth in the Seattle area, we're seeing demand for highly specialized technology and financial professionals with strong analytical skills," said Josh Warborg, district president for Robert Half in the Seattle/Tacoma area. "When hiring, companies are looking for professionals who can cultivate new and existing opportunities to help their firms reach their growth objectives."

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 Seattle/Tacoma 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%	20%
Maintaining -- only filling vacated positions	64%	70%
Freezing -- not filling vacated positions or creating new ones ___	14%	9%
Reducing -- eliminating positions	2%	1%
Don't know/no answer __	__0%	_ 0%
	100%	100%