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Unfilled finance and IT positions indicate hiring plans remain high

December 29, 2014

Human resources professionals and hiring managers in the accounting/finance and IT sectors are reporting an increased number of open accounting, finance and IT positions, signifying recent gains in business and a healthy work climate, according to the first-quarter accounting, finance and IT hiring forecast study conducted by staffing provider Brilliant and Richard Curtin, professor and director of surveys at the University of Michigan.

Nearly half of survey respondents, 48 percent, reported the overall economic situation of their companies had improved during the past year, up from 36 percent at the same time last year. Nearly two-thirds, 64 percent, anticipate continued economic growth in the year ahead, up significantly from 43 percent reported in the same quarter last year.

The research shows 30 percent (up from 28 percent last quarter) of companies in the study reported vacant accounting/finance positions, and 37 percent (up from 33 percent) reported unfilled IT positions. The majority of companies reported one to three unfilled accounting / finance positions while 14 percent stated their IT staff had at least four positions open.

Fifteen percent of study participants said their companies were planning to increase the number of temporary or contract accounting/finance professionals from what they were already utilizing, and 18 percent planned to increase the hiring of temporary or contract employees for IT in the coming year.

“This signifies that many companies have the confidence and budgets to invest in projects,” said Brilliant CEO James Wong. “Overall, the data provides solid evidence that companies are expecting growth in the number of new hires during the year ahead.”

The survey included almost 300 human resources professionals and hiring managers. It was conducted between Nov. 11 and Nov. 25, 2014.