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Robert Half Technology Survey Reveals IT Hiring Projections, Skills in Demand

TORONTO, March 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Seven per cent of Canadian chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed recently plan to expand their IT teams in the second quarter of 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. In addition, 74 per cent of CIOs said they will not be adding positions but will fill IT positions that open in the next three months. Sixteen per cent will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 2 per cent expect to reduce their IT staffing levels.

Q2 IT Hiring Forecast

"Strong demand continues to exist for IT professionals, as organisations boost their investments in various technology projects, such as mobile, security and data mining," said Leslie Heathers, metro market manager of Robert Half Technology. "Many firms are finding it particularly challenging to recruit technology workers in certain specialties, such as network administration and desktop support."

The IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. The survey is based on more than 270 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of Canadian companies with 100 or more employees. 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 Canada since 1995.

Recruiting Challenges
Fifty-five per cent of CIOs surveyed said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals today. Respondents cited networking (14 per cent), software development (13 per cent) and applications development (12 per cent) as the most challenging functional areas in which to recruit.

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
The survey results suggest that CIOs are optimistic about their companies' growth and IT investments. Eighty-seven per cent of CIOs reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the second quarter of 2013.

Eighty-two per cent of CIOs also said they were somewhat or very confident that their firms would invest in IT projects in the second quarter of 2013.

Skills in Demand
Among the technology executives surveyed, 59 per cent said network administration is the skill set in greatest demand within their IT department. Desktop support and database management followed, with 56 per cent and 50 per cent, of the response, respectively.

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 www.rht.com. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2013 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

SOURCE: Robert Half Technology