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CFO survey: Firms raise pay, benefits to recruit in-demand skills

September 26, 2013

Many chief financial officers are adopting strategies to recruit employees with in-demand skills. Nearly half (46 percent) of CFOs surveyed said they are improving benefits in order to attract top talent, according to a survey by Accountemps, a division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). Many are raising salaries and investing in training and development for promising workers, and 26 percent are bringing in temporary workers.

“Competition for highly skilled workers remains intense in many specialties,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps. “Boosting compensation and adding incentives is a useful first step for attracting talent, but it's equally important for businesses to develop the abilities of workers already on staff.”

The survey asked CFOs, “Which of the following strategies are you adopting or considering adopting to access professionals with in-demand skills?" Responses included:

  • Improving benefits: 46 percent
  • Increasing compensation: 45 percent
  • Investing in training and development of internal candidates: 42 percent
  • Bringing in temporary workers: 26 percent
  • Hiring talent from another city and allowing a remote work arrangement: 21 percent
  • Paying relocation expenses for top candidates: 19 percent

“If organizations can't quickly hire or promote from within, they increasingly bring in temporary staff to access specialized skills not available internally,” Messmer said.

The survey was developed by Accountemps and conducted by an independent research firm. It is based on interviews with more than 2,100 CFOs conducted in May 2013.