Chief financial officers in Houston plan the most hiring in the next six months, with 23% planning to add new professional-level positions, according to a professional employment forecast released today by Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). CFOs in Miami followed with 21% planning to add staff. On the flip side, only 11% of CFOs in Minneapolis/St. Paul and 12% of CFOs in both Denver and Philadelphia plan to add professional level positions.

CFOs were asked, “What are your company’s hiring plans for full-time, professional-level employees in the next six months?” The percentage of CFOs who responded they are expanding/adding new positions compared to responses in the same survey six months ago include:

• Atlanta: 20%, up from 15%
• Boston: 17%, down from 18%
• Chicago: 17%, down from 18%
• Cincinnati: 13%, down from 21%
• Cleveland: 16%, up from 11%
• Dallas/Fort Worth: 14%, down from 16%
• Denver: 12%, down from 14%
• Des Moines: 15%, up from 12%
• Detroit: 15%, up from 14%
• Houston: 23%, down from 25%
• Los Angeles: 19%, down from 22%
• Miami: 21%, down from 26%
• Minneapolis/St. Paul: 11%, down from 16%
• New York City: 17%, up from 15%
• Philadelphia: 12%, down from 13%
• Phoenix: 13%, down from 18%
• Salt Lake City: 16%, up from 15%
• San Francisco: 17%, up from 16%
• San Diego: 15%, down from 19%
• Seattle: 18%, up from 13%
• St. Louis: unchanged at 15%
• Washington: 20%, up from 18%

The local results are based on interviews with 200 CFOs in each area from a sample of companies in the area with 20 or more employees.