Washington, D.C., CIOs Reveal Hiring Plans For First Half Of 2015

Survey Finds 19 Percent of Area CIOs Plan to Expand IT Teams

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Dec 02, 2014, 08:14 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Nineteen percent of Washington, D.C.-area technology executives surveyed recently expect to expand their IT teams in the first half of 2015, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. This compares to 22 percent in the previous six-month period (July – December 2014). In addition, 65 percent plan to hire only for open IT roles, 12 percent plan to put hiring plans on hold, and 4 percent expect to reduce their IT staff in the first six months of the year.

Washington, D.C., IT hiring forecast for the first half of 2015. Survey by Robert Half Technology.

Washington, D.C., IT Hiring Forecast	July – Dec. 2014	Jan. – June 2015
CIOs adding more staff to IT departments	22%	19%
CIOs planning to hire only for open IT roles	66%	65%
CIOs who plan to put IT hiring plans on hold	6%	12%
CIOs who plan to reduce their IT staff	5%	4%
Don't know future hiring plans	1%	0%

View an infographic of the research findings.

"The Washington, D.C., area continues to offer many opportunities for talented IT professionals," said Chris Brinkman, Washington, D.C., regional vice president of Robert Half Technology. "Advertising and marketing firms, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations are seeking talented developers, as well as network and business intelligence professionals, to take on crucial roles."

The 2015 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 Washington, D.C., 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 Washington, D.C., 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 security (20 percent), application development (19 percent) and software development (17 percent).

Confidence in Business Growth

The survey results suggest that Washington, D.C., CIOs are optimistic about their companies' growth. Eighty-seven percent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the first half of 2015. This compares to 92 percent in the second half of 2014.

Skills in Demand

Sixty percent of Washington, D.C., technology executives surveyed said that network administration is among the skill sets in greatest demand within their IT departments. Windows administration and database management followed, each with 55 percent, and desktop support with 52 percent of the response.

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. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2015 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

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SOURCE Robert Half Technology