Execs Reveal 4Q Top Level Hiring Plans, More Confident In Future

Twelve percent of U.S.  executives say they will be hiring professional-level staff in the fourth quarter fo 2012, according to the Robert Half Professional Employment Report.

More than three quarters, 77%, of executives surveyed said they will will make no staff changes.

Max Messmer

That isn’t universal. Of U.S. executives surveyed, 17% said they will add professional-level staff in the fourth quarter. Another 5% said they will layoff staff.

A net of 12% plan to hire.

The survey results suggest growing business optimism.

Of the executives surveyed,  37% were “very confident” in fourth quarter growth prospects. That’s up 16 points from the third-quarter. Another 56% were “somewhat confident.”

“Executives in the United States appear to be increasingly optimistic about the growth prospects of their companies,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. “Businesses may be gearing up to support growth plans for the coming quarter and year.”

Key Findings On Professional Hiring

• 17% of executives will hire staff in the fourth quarter.
• 5% project layoffs.
• A net 12%  expect increasing hiring, up 12 points from last quarter’s survey.
• 77% expect no hiring plan changes.
• 37% were “very confident” in fourth growth prospects, up 16-points from the third-quarter. Another 56% were “somewhat confident,” down two points from the third quarter.
• 57% expect recruiting challenges.
• A net 33% plan to hire sales and business development professionals, the most of any field.
• Strong hiring is expected in legal (net 29%) and advertising & marketing (net 13%).
• Companies in the middle Atlantic states will do the most hiring. A net 23% of executives in the region will add professional-level staff.
• The transportation sector is most likely to hire professional-level staff. A net 24% said of transportation executives will add satff.

Professional-Level Hiring — By Field

Sales and business development topped the survey in anticipated hiring.

Robert Half Hiring Plans Survey 4Q 2012

The legal profession wasn’t far behind. A net 29% of lawyers said they will hire during the fourth quarter.

Professional-Level Hiring — By Region

Executives in the middle Atlantic states will do the most hiring. A net 23% of those surveyed said they will add staff.

“The fastest-growing industries in the middle Atlantic region include health care, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, nonprofit and retail,” Messmer noted.

Professional-Level Hiring — By Industry

Transportation industry executives will do the most fourth-quarter professional-level hiring . A net 24% of those surveyed said they will be hiring.

Survey respondents include more than 1,400 chief financial officers; 1,400 chief information officers; 500 senior human resources managers; 100 lawyers at law firms and 100 corporate lawyers; 125 advertising executives and 375 marketing executives.

All executives surveyed have hiring authority.

The Robert Half Professional Employment Report is a quarterly executive survey focused on professional-level hiring.