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Robert Half Technology Survey Shows 8 Per Cent of CIOs Plan to Expand IT Teams in Fourth Quarter

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Eight per cent of Canadian chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed recently say they will expand their IT teams in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the just-released Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. This compares to 9 per cent in the previous quarter. In addition, 69 per cent of CIOs plan to hire only for open IT roles, 22 per cent expect to put hiring plans on hold, and 1 per cent plan to reduce their IT staff in the fourth quarter.

In the same survey, 82 per cent of CIOs said they are somewhat or very confident about their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter, and 53 per cent said they are somewhat or very confident that their firms will invest in IT projects in the fourth quarter.

*Numbers do not total 100 per cent due to rounding.

"The hiring climate for IT professionals is stable, and while IT hiring managers remain selective when hiring, they need to move fast to acquire top talent in hot specialty areas such as Windows administration, networking and desktop support," said Megan Slabinski, Canadian president of Robert Half Technology. "With more than eight in 10 CIOs surveyed indicating that they are confident with their companies' growth prospects for the fourth quarter, retention also continues to be a focus area."

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, 35 per cent of CIOs said it's somewhat or very challenging to find skilled IT professionals today. It is most difficult to find skilled talent in the functional areas of networking (12 per cent), applications development (11 per cent) and security  (6 per cent).

Confidence in Business Growth and IT Investments
The survey results suggest CIOs are largely optimistic: Eighty-two per cent reported being somewhat or very confident in their companies' prospects for growth in the fourth quarter of 2013;  53 per cent said they are somewhat or very confident that their firms will invest in IT projects in the fourth quarter.

Skills in Demand
Among the technology executives surveyed, 60 per cent said that Windows administration was the skill set in greatest demand within their IT department. Desktop support and network administration followed, each with a response of 53 per cent.

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 also can download a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2013 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions. 

SOURCE Robert Half Technology