Chief financial officers in Houston plan the most hiring in the next six months, with 21% planning to add new professional-level positions, according to new professional employment forecasts from Robert Half. CFOs in Philadelphia and Los Angeles followed, each with 19% planning to add staff.

At the other end of the spectrum, only 9% of CFOs in St. Louis and San Diego plan to add professional-level positions.

The Robert Half survey asked CFOs: “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 include:

• Atlanta: 17%
• Boston: 16%
• Chicago: 11%
• Cincinnati: 11%
• Cleveland: 13%
• Dallas/Fort Worth: 14%
• Denver: 17%
• Des Moines: 15%
• Detroit: 17%
• Houston: 21%
• Los Angeles: 19%
• Miami/Fort Lauderdale: 17%
• Minneapolis/St. Paul: 14%
• New York City: 18%
• Philadelphia: 19%
• Phoenix: 14%
• Salt Lake City: 14%
• San Diego: 9%
• San Francisco Bay Area: 15%
• Seattle: 13%
• St. Louis: 9%
• Washington, DC: 14%

Robert Half Canada reported 16% of CFOs plan to hire full-time professional-level employees in the next six months, with hiring particularly competitive in the areas of accounting, finance and technology.

The professional employment forecasts were developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. The local results are based on interviews with 200 CFOs from a sample of companies in the area with 20 or more employees.