* CIOs plan to bring on more IT staff next quarter
CIOs plan to bring on more IT staff next quarter, according to new research from staffing firm Robert Half Technology.
Based on interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs, “The Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report” shows that 14% of IT execs plan to add full-time staff in the second quarter, while 2% anticipate cutbacks. This equates to an overall gain of 12%, the second highest since late 2002.
“Favorable economic conditions have prompted many companies to expand operations and increase their investment in IT,” says Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology.”
The most frequently cited reason for IT hiring is business growth, as chosen by 36% of respondents. Next on the list was increased demand for customer and/or end-user support professionals, with 28%. And the third biggest factor driving hiring is rollout of new enterprisewide applications, which was chosen by 14% of respondents.
Windows administration (Server 2000/2003) and network administration (Cisco, Nortel and Novell) are the top skills employers are seeking. A full 73% of respondents chose the former, while 62% seek the latter. Database management is needed too, as chosen by 60% of respondents. “In the case of high-demand skill sets such as Windows administration and database management, experienced IT professionals often are receiving multiple job offers.”
The Mountain region of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming expected to show a sizeable gain in IT hiring for the second quarter. A full 24% of IT execs anticipate adding jobs, while only 1% foresee cutbacks, making for a net hiring increase of 23%. Speaking of hiring in the Mountain states, Lee says, “In particular, companies are hiring Web developers and security specialists to enhance their online presence and safeguard networks and mobile devices.”
