Twin Cities CFOs Expect Increased Hiring In Next Six Months

Survey Finds 59 Percent of Minneapolis/St. Paul Companies Say It's Challenging to Find Skilled Talent

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Sep 08, 2015, 08:15 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Minneapolis/St. Paul area executives expect professional-level hiring to pick up in the next six months, according to the just-released Twin Cities Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Fifteen percent of local chief financial officers (CFOs) anticipate their company will create new jobs, up one point from the previous six-month period. Another 75 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:

90% of Twin Cities executives plan to hire professionals in the next six months.

	Sept. 2015 – Feb. 2016*	March – Aug. 2015*
Expanding – adding new positions	15%	14%
Maintaining – only filling vacated positions	75%	77%
Freezing – not filling vacated positions or creating new ones	6%	6%
Reducing – eliminating positions	3%	3%
Don't know/no answer	0%	1%
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.

View an infographic featuring the survey results.

"The war for talent in the Twin Cities is stronger than ever, and employers are taking note — we're seeing more companies allocate resources to employee engagement and retention efforts," said James Kwapick, district president for Robert Half in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. "Hiring is occurring across a number of industries, but demand is highest within the healthcare and professional services sectors, especially for those with financial analysis and customer service skills. Notably, more employers are offering more robust salary increases to keep top talent."

Recruiting Challenges
Organizations looking to add staff may face difficulties, Robert Half's research shows. Fifty-nine percent of CFOs surveyed in the Twin Cities said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today. This compares to 58 percent in the previous six months.

Business Confidence
According to the Professional Employment Forecast, CFOs in the Twin Cities 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.

Compensation Upgrades
To address staffing challenges, some firms are strengthening the salary and benefits they offer. Thirty percent of Twin Cities 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 Minneapolis/St. Paul 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/minneapolis-st-paul.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150904/263957-INFO

SOURCE Robert Half