HOLLAND – Nearly one-half of west Michigan companies report that they will be adding information technology staff during the next six months. Two-thirds of small companies (fewer than 50 employees) plan to hire new IT.
Computer consulting and professional service companies will be doing the most hiring. Junior level staffers are in high demand for the first time in our survey, which should be good for recent graduates. New hiring will be especially high in applications, but all disciplines and levels of IT workers will be needed in all kinds of businesses.
?Our area really seems to be improving economically,? said Paragon?s chief recruiting officer Beth DeWilde. ?I am very busy finding candidates for a variety of firms, but as always the needs are for very specific kinds of technology skills.?
Outsourcing of IT projects is higher than ever before with local outsourcing still the most popular. Many companies report multiple outsource locations.
40 percent of companies Increase IT Pay Rates
Participating firms suggested expanding our survey to ask about IT pay rates and use of IT interns. We learned that 40 percent of the responding firms will be increasing pay for IT staff. Just over one-third of our companies will use IT interns during the next six months.
Paragon Recruiting, a local technology recruiting firm, has just released its new Technology Employment Forecast for the first half of 2011. The information in this forecast can be indicative of the overall business climate in west Michigan and help companies make their strategic decisions. Nearly 100 mid and west Michigan firms of varying sizes and industries participate in this semi-annual forecast. Most have been faithful participants since the first forecast for 2003.
Various interesting statistics are compiled by expectations of hiring by company size, company industry, IT disciplines and skill levels. The following graphs are samples of forecasting trends. For more detailed information, click on ParagonUSA.Com
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