IT Hiring Expected to Jump in First Quarter

Austin Business Journal - by Mike W. Thomas
Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 1:15pm CST
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The U.S. is expected to see a boost in information technology hiring in the first quarter next year, according to the latest survey by Robert Half Technology.

The survey reported 11 percent of chief information officers saying they plan to add IT positions during the first three months of next year, while just 3 percent foresee cutbacks—an important indicator for Austin's technology heavy economy. The 8 percent increase in hiring activity is up 5 points compared with the forecast for the current quarter.

The survey also found that 84 percent of CIOs are at least somewhat confident in their companies’ growth prospects in the first quarter, the same number reported in the fourth-quarter survey. More than half (54 percent) of executives said it is very or somewhat challenging to find skilled IT professionals today.

“As companies maximize operational efficiencies and strive to make information more accessible, they rely on their IT departments,” said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. “As a result, CIOs are re-initiating previously deferred projects and are more willing to invest in augmenting their teams.”

The national survey also revealed that technology executives in the West South Central region, which includes Texas, will be hiring the most actively.

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 1,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees.

Robert Half Technology is an IT staffing firm owned by Menlo Park, Calif.-based Robert Half International. The company has offices nationwide, including Austin.

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