CIOs Reveal Second-Quarter Hiring Plans

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    Robert Half Technology Survey Finds Increased IT Hiring Projections
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TORONTO, March 8 /CNW/ - Technology executives expect continued information technology (IT) hiring in the second quarter of 2012, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. In the latest quarterly survey, 18 per cent of chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed said they plan to expand their IT departments, and 3 per cent expect cutbacks, for a net 15 per cent projected increase in hiring activity. This is up seven points from last quarter's projections.

In the same survey, 86 per cent of technology executives are somewhat or very optimistic about their companies' growth prospects in the next three months, and 83 per cent are confident in their firms' second-quarter investment in IT projects.

The IT Hiring Index and Skills Report is based on telephone interviews with more than 270 CIOs from companies across Canada with 100 or more employees. Executives are asked whether their companies plan to increase or decrease the number of full-time IT personnel on their staff during the coming quarter. The survey is conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half has been tracking IT hiring activity in Canada since 2000.

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    Key Findings
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The net 15 per cent increase in anticipated IT hiring activity is up seven points from a net 8 per cent increase in hiring activity projected last quarter.

Help desk/technical support professionals are in greatest demand, followed closely by networking and applications development professionals, according to survey respondents.

Forty-seven per cent of CIOs said it's challenging to find skilled professionals today.

Eighty-six per cent of CIOs are somewhat or very confident in their companies' growth prospects in the next three months.

Eighty-three per cent of technology executives expressed confidence in their firms' second-quarter investments in IT projects, rating the likelihood that their companies would be investing in IT projects a three or higher on a five-point scale, with five being most confident.

"The employment market for IT professionals is currently active, as many professionals look for new job opportunities," said Lara Dodo, a Canadian regional vice president of Robert Half Technology. "Those in hot specialties, such as help desk/technical support and networking, continue to be highly sought after - as well, mobile media is a significant area of growth that is generating job openings right now."

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    Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
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Eighty-six per cent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the second quarter of 2012; 83 per cent of technology executives expressed confidence in their firms' second-quarter investment in IT projects, rating the likelihood that their companies would be investing in IT projects a three or higher on a five-point scale, with five being most confident.

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    Skills in Demand
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The functional areas in which executives say they are experiencing the greatest challenge in finding skilled IT professionals is help desk/technical support (14 per cent). Networking and applications development followed, each cited by 11 per cent of survey respondents.

Network administration remains the skill set in greatest demand, cited by 67 per cent of CIOs. Windows administration and desktop support were next, with 59 per cent and 52 per cent of the response, respectively.

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    Industries Hiring
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Executives in the wholesale industry expect the most IT hiring in the second quarter. A net 25 per cent of CIOs in this sector plan to expand their IT departments. This was followed by the finance industry, with a net 19 percent of technology leaders anticipating hiring increases. Professional services came next, with a net 18 per cent of executives in this industry planning to add staff.

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    About the Survey
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The quarterly IT Hiring Index and Skills Report was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. First published in 1995, the study is based on more than 270 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of Canadian companies with 100 or more employees. In order for the study to be statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by industry and number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper number of employees within each industry. The margin of error for this study is +/-5.0 per cent at the 90 per cent level of confidence.

Information from the study is featured in the Robert Half Professional Employment Report, which was launched in 2010 and is the first study of its kind to monitor the hiring environment for professional-level positions exclusively. Based on more than 1,000 telephone interviews with executives throughout Canada, it provides insight on employment trends to help businesses and job seekers prepare for the upcoming quarter. To see how hiring within the technology profession has changed since last quarter and how it compares to other sectors, please visit www.roberthalf.ca/per.

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    About Robert Half Technology
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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 www.rht.com.

TO SPEAK WITH A LOCAL EXPERT, CONTACT: Robert Half Technology, Contact: Nadia Santoli, [phone], [email protected]