CIOs cautious about Q3

Business generally slows down a bit in the summer, and IT hiring is no exception. According to Robert Half Technology, about 5% of CIOs will be making hires in the third quarter; down from the 9% increase forecast for this quarter.

Robert Half Technology’s Information Technology Hiring Index and Skills Report is based on interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs regarding their hiring plans for the third quarter of 2004. Of those surveyed, 8% plan to add IT workers, while 3% expect IT job cuts. The net result is a 5% increase in the IT jobs picture.

Here are some of the highlights:

* CIOs continue to identify Windows administration as the expertise needed most within their organizations, as chosen by 84% of respondents.

* Networking is the most sought-after IT specialty. The area won 25% of the response, up slightly from second quarter results of 21%. Application development was the runner-up, with 14% of respondents identifying a need for this segment of IT.

* The strongest IT hiring activity is forecast for the West North Central area of the country, which includes Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. A full 12% of CIOs in this region intend to add staff, while none anticipate staff reductions. Next comes the Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, where IT leaders project a net 8% hiring increase.

* Business growth remains the leading driver for hiring increases, as cited by 51% of those who plan to add staff. Next comes systems upgrades and a need for increased support, which each garnered 13% of the response.

For more results of the hiring index, go to https://www.rht.com/PressRoomLOBName=RHIC&releaseid=1191