Survey: Increased optimism for IT hiring - Business First of Columbus:

Survey: Increased optimism for IT hiring - Business First of Columbus:

While hiring in information technology departments remains modest, a new survey from staffing firm Robert Half points to a slightly more optimistic second quarter for Ohio and nearby states.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Robert Half Technology’s quarterly hiring outlook survey found that 10 percent of surveyed chief information officers in its East North Central region, which includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, expect to hire workers from April through June. Only 1 percent of those surveyed in the region plan cutbacks.

The nationwide hiring outlook among 1,400 chief information officers surveyed for the latest report shows a similarly modest hiring outlook with 9 percent of surveyed executives planning to add staff. But 4 percent nationwide are expecting to cut.

Robert Half Technology Executive Director Dave Willmer said in a release that the company is seeing “early signs of optimism.”

“Recruiting efforts are focused in areas such as networking and desktop support, which help keep hardware and software running effectively, and facilitate the implementation of new technologies,” Willmer said.

The best region for IT jobs in the second quarter is projected to be the West South Central area, which includes Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Only 1 percent of executives told Robert Half they plan to cut while 14 percent are gearing up to hire staff.

Executives surveyed by phone for the quarterly employment outlook come from companies with 100 or more employees. The firm didn’t report how many respondents came from each region.