CIOs See Growth In The Fourth Quarter

Chief information officers (CIOs) expect a modest increase in hiring in the fourth quarter, according to a new report from Robert Half Technology.

Nine percent of chief information officers (CIOs) plan to add information technology (IT) staff and 6 percent foresee cutbacks before the end of the year. The net 3 percent increase in hiring activity is down three points from the prior quarter’s forecast, but up three points from this time last year. 

“Technology executives continue to add staff to keep up with rising workloads and to implement projects previously put on hold," said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology.

"Many organizations have realized that technology investments can lead to long-term cost savings and better efficiency, which has resulted in hiring in a number of IT specialties.”

Other key findings from the report include:

*The South Atlantic and East South Central regions anticipate the most active IT hiring.

*Eighty-four percent of CIOs are at least somewhat confident in their companies’ growth prospects in the fourth quarter; 37 percent are very confident.

*Network administration skills remain the most in demand among employers.