Chief information officers in the US plan more hiring in the first half of 2018 than a year ago, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report.
The survey found 21% of CIOs in the US plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the first six months of the year, a five-point increase from one year ago at the same time.
Sixty-three percent of the CIOs surveyed said they plan to maintain staff levels by hiring only to fill vacant IT roles. It continues to be a competitive market for technology talent: 61% of hiring leaders said it’s somewhat or very challenging to find skilled technology professionals today.
“Technology leaders hope to get ahead on critical initiatives such as cybersecurity projects or digital upgrades in the new year by bringing on more professionals with specialized skills,” said John Reed, senior executive director for Robert Half Technology. “Database, desktop support, development and security skills are in high demand. To secure the best talent, tech leaders should act quickly when they find a great candidate and offer him or her a competitive compensation package.”
According to IT executives, the skills in greatest demand within their department include:
- Database management: 48%
- Desktop support: 44%
- Telecommunications support: 44%
- Wireless network management: 44%
- Business intelligence/reporting services: 44%
When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, 24% of CIOs said they will be focused on maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information.
The top five cities where CIOs are expanding their technology teams in the first half of 2018 are:
- San Diego
- Atlanta
- New York
- Austin, Texas
- Charlotte, NC
The hiring forecast is based on interviews with more than 2,600 CIOs from 26 major US markets who were asked to provide a six-month hiring outlook.
