Employment report shows professional-level jobs may increase in coming months

Seventeen per cent of executives interviewed for the latest Professional Employment Report by staffing firm Robert Half said that they plan to add full-time professional-level employees to their staff in the second three months of 2012, while only 8% foresee declines.

More than seven in 10 (72%) hiring executives, however, said that they do not anticipate any changes to their staffing levels.

The report, released last month, revealed that 82% of the executives surveyed are somewhat or very confident in their companies’ growth prospects in the second quarter. In addition, more than a third (36%) indicated that they are having difficulty finding skilled employees today.

According to a press release by Robert Half, the legal and marketing fields are expected to see the strongest professional-level hiring activity, with a net 37% and a net 22% of executives, respectively, planning to increase staff levels.

Another sector expected to grow with respect to professional-level staffing is transportation, with a net 21% of executives surveyed in that industry anticipating hiring. Also geared for professional-level job growth is the wholesale industry, with 17% of executives indicating they will hire during the upcoming quarter.

“Companies continue to seek experienced professionals to support their ongoing business needs and guide growth,” said Lara Dodo, a Canadian regional vice-president of Robert Half.

“Some firms are making strategic hires to fill personnel gaps – particularly in the legal and marketing fields – while others are taking a variable approach to staffing by supplementing full-time teams with temporary or project professionals.”

Indeed, the legal profession topped the survey in anticipated hiring, with a net 37% of lawyers planning to add staff. A net 22% of executives in advertising and marketing indicated they, too, would hire during the second quarter.

In addition, the legal and marketing fields both reported the greatest difficulty finding skilled professionals, as cited by 76% and 52% of executives, respectively.

Robert Half International is a recognized leader in professional staffing services. Find more information at www.roberthalf.ca.