- 57% plan to add new permanent roles; 67% expect to hire
contract workers
- Managers cite company growth as the primary factor influencing
hiring plans
MENLO
PARK, Calif., Dec. 7, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- The job market will remain resilient heading into
2024, research from talent solutions and business consulting firm
Robert Half shows. According to the company's State of U.S. Hiring
Survey, 57% of respondents plan to add new permanent positions in
the first six months of the year, while another 39% anticipate
hiring for vacated positions. More than two-thirds (67%) expect to
hire contract workers as part of their staffing strategy.
Companies' Plans for
Hiring Permanent Staff
|
|
First Half
2023
|
First Half
2024
|
Adding new
positions
|
58 %
|
57 %
|
Filling vacated
positions
|
39 %
|
39 %
|
Not adding new or
filling vacated positions
|
3 %
|
2 %
|
Eliminating
positions
|
0 %
|
1 %
|
Robert
Half's State of U.S. Hiring Survey: 57% of respondents plan
to add new permanent roles in the first half of 2024.
View a breakdown of hiring plans by profession and city.
Company Growth Anticipated, and Projects Gain
Momentum
Among managers who plan to increase hiring, more
than two-thirds (66%) cited company growth as the primary factor
influencing their hiring decisions for the first half of 2024. In
addition, more than three-quarters (77%) of managers who had to put
projects on hold in 2023 said they plan to pick them back up in the
new year.
Hiring Challenges Persist
While hiring is expected to
increase, finding the right talent may not be easy. According to
the survey, 90% of hiring managers report difficulty finding
skilled professionals, and 58% said it takes longer to hire for
open roles compared to one year ago. Some of the top factors
contributing to hiring challenges include:
- Finding candidates who align with the company culture
(49%)
- Meeting candidates' salary expectations (48%)
- Lack of candidates applying for open roles (42%)
"Job openings continue to exceed the number of professionals
looking for work," said Dawn Fay,
operational president of Robert
Half. "With hiring expected to increase early in the year,
employers need to have a strategic hiring plan in order to land the
talent they need."
Companies Need a Retention Plan
While workers aren't
leaving their jobs at the same rate they were during the Great
Resignation, many organizations are worried about turnover. When
asked about their top concerns, 91% of managers cited retaining top
talent, and 88% said they worry about keeping teams motivated and
engaged.
Fay added: "While hiring will be a priority next year, managers
shouldn't lose sight of their current teams. Now is the time to
prioritize employee engagement and retention to avoid turnover and
loss of productivity. Routinely researching and adjusting
compensation levels, offering flexible work, and implementing
policies to alleviate burnout are all effective strategies."
About the Research
The online survey was developed by Robert
Half and conducted by an independent research firm from
November 1-20, 2023. It includes
responses from more than 1,850 managers with hiring
responsibilities in finance and accounting, technology, marketing
and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and human
resources at companies with 20 or more employees in the U.S.
About Robert
Half
Robert Half
(NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent
solutions firm that connects opportunities at great companies with
highly skilled job seekers. Offering contract talent and permanent
placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting,
technology, administrative and customer support, legal, and
marketing and creative, Robert Half
has more than 400 locations worldwide, including nearly 100
locations in 18 countries outside the
United States. Robert Half is
the parent company of Protiviti®, a global consulting
firm that provides internal audit, risk, business and technology
consulting solutions. Robert Half,
including Protiviti, has been named one of the
Fortune® Most Admired Companies™ and
100 Best Companies to Work For and is a Forbes Best Employer for
Diversity. Explore our comprehensive solutions, research and
insights at RobertHalf.com.
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SOURCE Robert Half