Recruiter Confidence Climbs
June 17, 2009 – ExecuNet’s Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI) jumped 16 points higher in May, as the executive search industry’s outlook for the employment market improved for the third consecutive month amid signs that economic conditions are stabilizing. The RCI now stands at its highest level since June 2008. The Recruiter Confidence Index is based on a monthly survey of executive search firms conducted by ExecuNet. Designed to forecast job growth at the executive level, a reading above 50 percent indicates recruiters expect the number of search assignments in the next six months will increase. Independent analysis of the RCI has confirmed it is a leading indicator for the executive employment market. According to May’s survey of 143 executive recruiters, 57 percent are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve in the next six months, up from 41 percent last month. During this period of time, 67 percent of all executive recruiters expect at least a 10 percent increase in search assignments received from corporate clients. “Conditions have clearly changed,” said Mark Anderson, president and chief economist at ExecuNet. “We can now see the first clear signs of a recovery indicated by responses that are similar to what we saw coming out of the last recession in the second quarter of 2003. Executive recruiters expect hiring to increase as we move toward the end of the year. For executives interested in making a change, now is the time to come off of the sidelines.” Founded in 1988, ExecuNet is a private network for business leaders.