Renewed Confidence in Hiring Offers Brightens Employment Outlook
December 6, 2010 – After 10 consecutive months of private sector employment growth, half of employers and recruiters anticipate more professionals will be hired in the first half of 2011 than the previous six months, according to a new survey by Career site Dice Holdings, Inc. This result closely mirrors findings six months ago which are being reflected in the general labor market – with private employers adding 132,000 jobs per month on average since July, as compared to just 98,000 new positions per month in the first half of 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly half (47 percent) of hiring managers and recruiters expect voluntary employee departures to increase next year. Likewise, building or replacing staff is likely to become more expensive, with more than a quarter of respondents (29 percent) indicating salaries for new hires are increasing as compared to last year. For those planning to make more hires in the first half of 2011, 50 percent project they will add up to 10 percent more employees compared with the second half of 2010, while 31 percent plan to increase hiring by 11-20 percent. “The labor market is improving, but employment is still not growing as quickly as in previous recoveries,” said Scot Melland, chairman, president and CEO of Dice. “However, with skills shortages starting to emerge and voluntary departures on the rise, 2011 will likely be a busy year for hiring managers and employers.”