Pre employment screening

 

“Not surprisingly, companies are being more judicious when hiring in today’s economic environment,” said Dave Willmer, executive director of Robert Half Technology (News - Alert), in a company statement.

 

“Budgets must support critical IT projects, and companies are re-examining their staffing needs accordingly. Among the areas where demand remains stable are help desk and technical support, and networking.”

Of the CIOs who plan to add staff, 21 percent will hire a mix of full-time and project workers, while eight percent will add contract workers. Corporate growth is a primary factor driving hiring demand for 25 percent of executives. IT department expansion is a priority for nine percent. Eight percent of respondents will increase workloads and the need for systems upgrades.

 

The biggest reasons for reductions in IT personnel during the second quarter include IT budgets for 40 percent of CIOs, and the impact of the financial crisis on their company or industry for 21 percent. IT projects being put on hold and companywide layoffs each received 18 percent of the response.

Specific skills will be in demand in IT departments, including desktop support for 67 percent. Network administration and Windows administration followed closely, with 65 percent and 64 percent of the response, respectively. The most growth will be seen in the help desk/technical support and networking divisions.

 

“The need to maximize efficiency and better utilize existing resources is driving hiring in the Mountain states,” Willmer noted. “Companies are seeking network professionals as well as those with experience in virtualization, .NET (News - Alert) and PHP/LAMP development to help build upon or expand current applications.”

The regions of New England and West North Central anticipate hiring gains above the national average, each forecasting a net five percent increase. Nine percent of CIOs anticipate adding staff and four percent forecast reductions in the New England region.

 

Optimism was found in CIOs in the business services and professional services sectors for hiring in the upcoming quarter. Ten percent of business services executives interviewed plan to add staff and another three percent will reduce the size of their IT workforce. In professional services, 11 percent expect to hire more staff and five percent expect staff reductions.

This study shows that there is positive movement in IT, even though it is somewhat skewed based on the specific division of the department. Opportunities will also vary according to region, which could cause a push toward the Mountain region as it poses the greatest promise.

Perhaps the most important element of this study is the realization that the majority of CIOs plan to keep personnel the same, meaning these jobs are protected. Of course, a change in the economics for any company can have an impact on the HR budget, but for now, the outlook is promising.