GRAND RAPIDS – More than 20 percent of the 1,400 chief financial officers surveyed for the Robert Half Financial Hiring Index said they plan to add full-time accounting and finance employees in first quarter of 2012. Only 11 percent forecast staff decreases. The resulting net 9 percent increase is up four points from the fourth-quarter survey and represents the third consecutive quarter of growth.
Companies told Robert Half that their biggest challenge is finding people with the right skills to fill a number of key roles. Sixty-eight percent of executives reported recruiting challenges, up from 59 percent in the fourth quarter and 41 percent in the third quarter.
“Competition for the best employees is intensifying, and, at the same time, these professionals are beginning to feel increasingly comfortable exploring new roles at other firms,” said Max Messmer, CEO of Robert Half International. “Businesses are still selective when hiring but understand they need to move quickly once the right candidate is identified.”
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