HOLLAND ? The overall trend in West Michigan technology staffing for the first half of 2007 looks very much as it did a year ago with about one-third of employers increasing staff. The big change is very different industries now account for the new hiring plans.
More than twice as many of the education/government respondents plan to increase their IT staff as did a year ago. Hiring in healthcare is also predicted to double. Professional services companies forecast just the opposite with less than half as many planning to hire IT people. A year ago, the staffing changes were reversed.
Paragon Recruiting, a Holland technology recruiting company, has just released its new Technology Employment Forecast for the first half of 2007. About 100 mid and West Michigan companies of varying sizes and industries participated in this semi-annual forecast. The majority are faithful participants from one forecast to the next.
The only companies planning to decrease IT staffs are manufacturers, the survey shows. But, it is interesting to note, that twice as many manufacturers plan to increase their technology staffs compared with those manufacturers planning to let folks go.
Although the number of companies outsourcing IT projects has not increased, it seems that more of these are going to multiple locations to have their work completed.
Companies with 251 to 500 employees expect to hire the most new IT staff members ? 45 percent. Companies with 51 to 100 employees plan to hire the least ? 10 percent.
By industry, 71 percent of school respondents plan to increase their professional technology staffs, while retail/wholesale plan to hire the least at 13 percent.
Mid level applications specialists will be most in demand next year, while junior level support staffers will be least likely to lose their jobs.
To read the entire survey, click on ParagonUSA.Com
