Chief financial officers in Denver plan the most hiring with 18 percent planning to add new professional-level positions in the fourth quarter, according to new professional employment forecasts from Robert Half. CFOs in the Seattle/Tacoma area came next with 17 percent planning to add staff. At the other end of the spectrum, only 7 percent of Chicago-area CFOs 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 fourth quarter?” The percentage of CFOs who responded they are expanding/adding new positions include:

• Atlanta: 10 percent
• Boston: 14 percent
• Chicago: 7 percent
• Cincinnati: 10 percent
• Cleveland/Akron/Canton: 9 percent
• Dallas/Fort Worth: 11 percent
• Denver: 18 percent
• Des Moines: 8 percent
• Detroit: 12 percent
• Houston: 11 percent
• Los Angeles: 12 percent
• Miami/Fort Lauderdale: 12 percent
• Minneapolis/St. Paul: 13 percent
• New York City: 10 percent
• Philadelphia: 9 percent
• Phoenix: 14 percent
• Salt Lake City: 10 percent
• San Francisco Bay Area: 8 percent
• Seattle/Tacoma: 17 percent
• St. Louis: 8 percent
• Washington, D.C.: 13 percent

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