Nine per cent of chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed for the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report plan to add full-time information technology (IT) staff in the first quarter, while two per cent anticipate personnel reductions.
The net seven per cent hiring increase compares with a net 10 per cent forecast one year ago.
The poll includes responses from more than 270 CIOs from a stratified random sample of Canadian companies with 100 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis.
Other key findings include; the business services sector, finance and construction sectors are expected to lead hiring activity.
Also executives at the largest firms (1,000 or more employees) forecast the highest levels of IT hiring activity.
Probably most surprising is that Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/XP) administration remains the technical skill set most in demand.
“As companies continue to implement new IT projects, CIOs will continue to hire additional personnel,” said Sandra Lavoy, a vice-president with Robert Half Technology. “With an employment market favouring job seekers, managers are under increased pressure to retain employees while seeking out new talent.”Many IT departments are re-evaluating their staffing strategies, she added.
“Executives are streamlining their approach to hiring to ensure they can acquire skilled candidates quickly. As many job-seekers are being inundated with multiple offers, delays in the hiring process could mean the loss of a top candidate.”
Executives at the largest companies were the most optimistic about technology hiring. Thirty-one per cent of CIOs at these firms plan to add staff and five per cent project declines in personnel. The net 26 per cent hiring increase is three percentage points above the previous quarter’s ranking.
Skills in Demand
When asked which technical skill sets were needed most within their IT departments, 78 per cent of CIOs reported demand for Microsoft Windows (NT/2000/XP) administration expertise. Cisco network administration and SQL server management was cited by 36 per cent of respondents, followed closely by checkpoint firewall administration (35 per cent). (Note: CIOs surveyed were allowed multiple responses.)
When technology executives were asked which specialties were most in demand in their departments, 20 per cent said Internet/intranet development networking was cited by 19 per cent of CIOs while help desk/end-user support received 11 per cent of the response. Internet/intranet development is up 11 percentage points from its fourth-quarter ranking.
Industries Hiring
The business services, finance and construction sectors lead all industries in anticipated hiring activity. The business services sector is up 10 percentage points from its fourth-quarter ranking.