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TORONTO, June 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Nine per cent of Canadian chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed recently expect to expand their IT teams in the third quarter of 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. This compares to 7 per cent in the previous quarter. In addition, 65 per cent plan to hire to fill open IT roles in the upcoming quarter, 23 per cent expect to put hiring plans on hold, and 2 per cent plan to reduce their IT staff in the third quarter.

In the same survey, 82 per cent of CIOs said they were somewhat or very confident about their companies' prospects for growth in the third quarter, and 60 per cent felt somewhat or very confident in their firms' third-quarter investment in IT projects.

*Numbers may not total 100 percent due to rounding.

"Many companies are hiring Windows administration and network administration professionals to work on their IT priorities, such as virtual storage projects and a continued focus on IT security," said Megan Slabinski, Canadian president of Robert Half Technology. "Firms are also strengthening their retention efforts, since it can be difficult to find IT talent in growing specialty areas."

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
In terms of recruiting, 36 per cent of CIOs said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals today. It is most challenging to find skilled talent in the functional areas of help desk/technical support (11 per cent), followed by networking and security (both at 9 per cent).

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

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

Skills in Demand
Among the technology executives surveyed, 55 per cent said that Windows administration is the skill set in greatest demand within their IT department, followed by network administration at 50 per cent and desktop support with 48 per cent of the response.

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