Employers, especially smaller businesses with fewer resources, find it increasingly challenging to attract and hire highly skilled professionals. Candidates have the upper hand in the current job market, and com-petition for their services can make the recruiting process more complex.

Successful employers understand the need to move quickly when hiring, albeit without skipping important steps. They offer competitive compensation and perks to attract professionals with the skills most

in demand. These businesses also focus on creating a satisfying work environment that fosters productivity and engagement, and values employee retention.

This report is a collection of the latest research, including data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and is designed to shed light on the hiring environment and talent shortage. It also emphasizes why hiring managers need to move quickly in their recruiting efforts.

THE HIRING ENVIRONMENT: CONTINUED RECRUITING CHALLENGES EXPECTED IN 2017

1

SPOTLIGHTS:

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENTVolume 13 – Q1/Q2 2017

As of November 2016, 5.5 million jobs were open, up 17% from two years ago.5

JOBS ARE OPEN, BUT NOT ALL COMPANIES FIND THE RIGHT FIT

65% of CFOs said they typically post an open job and wait for resumes, instead of actively recruiting.7

58% of small business CEOs expect to increase their staff during the next 12 months.6

38% of CFOs said that aside from poor performance, failed hires are a result of a mismatched skill set.8

Percentages of executives who report challenges in finding skilled professionals:

CIOs1 CFOs2

Lawyers3 Advertising and marketing executives4

61% 62%

63% 55%

52% of hiring managers are unable to predict the long-term success of their new hires.9

HEALTHCAREPAGE 4

WORK HAPPYPAGE 2

A motivated and engaged workforce is also a happy and productive one. Robert Half surveyed more than 12,000 workers in the United States and Canada and found that on a happiness scale of 0-100, respondents scored a 71. The happiest workers are …

SPOTLIGHT: IT’S TIME WE ALL WORK HAPPY.

Volume 13 – Q1/Q2 2017 Robert Half 2

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENT

1 U.S. CIOs Reveal Hiring Plans and Challenges for First Half of 2017, Robert Half Technology, Dec. 8, 2016.

2 The Employers’ Holiday Wish: An Easy Hiring Process, Robert Half, Dec. 13, 2016.

3 Litigation Expected to Drive Hiring in First Half of 2017, Robert Half Legal, Dec. 15, 2016.

4 U.S. Advertising and Marketing Executives Anticipate Steady Hiring in New Year, The Creative Group, Dec. 15, 2016.

5 Job Openings and Labor Turnover – November 2016, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jan.10, 2017.

6 WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index – Nov. 2016, Vistage, Dec. 2016.

7 When It Comes to Hiring, Wait for Resumes or Cast a Wide Net? Robert Half, Oct. 18, 2016.

8 Why Your Last Hire Failed: CFOs Cite ‘Mismatched Skill Set’ as Leading Cause, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Nov. 28, 2016.

9 Over Half of Hiring Managers Say It’s Tough to Predict Long-Term Success of Newly Hired Talent, Visier, Dec. 12, 2016.

10 When It Comes to Hiring, Wait for Resumes or Cast a Wide Net? Robert Half, Oct. 18, 2016.

11 Businesses Optimistic for 2017, but Face Employee Recruitment Challenges, Survey Finds, Staffing Industry Analysts, Dec. 12, 2016.

12 New Salary Guides Reveal Hiring Trends and Hot Skills for More Than 750 Professional Occupations, Robert Half, Aug. 30, 2016.

13 The Class of 2016 Student Survey Report, National Association of Colleges and Employers, Oct. 2016.

14 For Millennials, Is Job-Hopping Inevitable? Gallup, Nov. 8, 2016.15 Is Your Company Family-Friendly? Nearly Half of Employers

Have Made Changes to Help Working Parents in Past Five Years, OfficeTeam, Dec. 14, 2016.

67% of workers said they would consider a job offer from a recruiter regardless of whether they had been considering a career move.10

75% of employers plan to increase wages in 2017, with 34% looking at variable/bonus pay.11 Average starting salaries for U.S. professional occupations are expected to increase 3.6% in 2017.12

Graduates from the Class of 2016 are looking for employers that offer personal growth, job security, friendly coworkers and a good benefits package.13

57% of millennials say work-life balance and personal well-being are very important to them.14

79% of employees said flexible hours is the family-friendly perk that would most affect their decision to join a company.15

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIRE

• Proud of their company – Having pride in one’s organization is the No. 1 driver of workplace happiness.

• A good match – Workers who report that they are a poor fit with their employers are the most apt to leave.

• Small business employees – People working in firms with fewer than 10 employees have the highest workplace happiness levels.

• Experienced professionals – Employees ages 55 and up report the highest levels of happiness on the job.

Source: Who Are the Happiest Workers and What Are the Top Drivers of Workplace Happiness? Robert Half and Happiness Works, Oct. 27, 2016.

TM

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

Financial analysts: 1.0% Chief executives (includes CFOs): 1.1% Accountants and auditors: 1.3% Compliance officers: 1.5%Financial managers: 1.7%Payroll clerks: 1.8%Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks: 2.3%

Q4 2016 UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR SELECT POSITIONS BY OCCUPATION*

Volume 13 – Q1/Q2 2017 Robert Half 3

*Source: Current Population Survey, Conducted by the Bureau of Census for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Data for Q4 2016, Jan. 6, 2017.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND OFFICE SUPPORT

Human resources assistants: 1.5% Administrative assistants: 3.2% Human resources workers: 3.6% Administrative services managers: 3.8%Office clerks: 4.0%

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENT

TECHNOLOGY

Chief executives (includes CIOs): 1.1%Database administrators: 1.6%Network and computer systems administrators: 1.9%Software developers, applications and systems software: 1.9%Computer systems analysts: 2.3% Technical writers: 2.3%Computer hardware engineers: 2.5%Computer network architects: 2.6%Computer and information systems managers: 3.1%Computer programmers: 4.0%

CREATIVE AND MARKETING

Proofreaders: 0.6%Public relations specialists: 1.5%Editors: 1.6%Marketing managers: 1.8%Public relations managers: 2.4%Designers: 3.5%

LEGAL

Lawyers: 0.8%Paralegals and legal assistants: 2.2%

SPECIAL REPORT: THE DEMAND FOR SKILLED TALENT

Robert Half 4

WORKERS ARE MORE WILLING TO QUIT THEIR JOBS U.S. Employees Who Voluntarily Left Their Jobs (in thousands)

Volume 13 – Q1/Q2 2017

We specialize in identifying hard-to-find candidates and matching them with appropriate jobs. Our staffing professionals are well-connected within the industries we serve and can draw from a large pool of highly skilled and experienced candidates. We also conduct frequent research, so we can provide our clients with the most up-to-date information on salary and employment trends. With more than 325 specialized staffing locations worldwide and more than 65 years of recruiting experience, Robert Half is well-positioned to help you with any of your staffing and recruitment needs.

Call us today at 1.888.739.8102.

roberthalf.com

ROBERT HALF CAN HELP

© 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.

Source: Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys (Nov 2014 - Nov 2016), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures are seasonally adjusted. P = Preliminary.

Demand is high for skilled professionals in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Healthcare practitioners, support occupations and technical positions in the industry will represent 1 in 4 new jobs by 2024.16 Healthcare organizations are looking to hire new staff to help them improve efficiencies. In addition to hiring, these businesses also should focus on skills development for their employees: 62% of workers in the healthcare industry say ongoing training will be essential for them.17

SPOTLIGHT: OPPORTUNITIES IN HEALTHCARE

Challenges healthcare organizations are facing:

• Reducing the cost of healthcare

• Managing regulatory compliance

• Adopting new technology

• Improving the customer experience

Positions in demand by healthcare employers:

• Accounting and finance professionals

• Revenue cycle specialists

• Administrative support professionals

• Specialized consultants

3,064P

NOV ’16

2,662NOV ’14

2,862NOV ’15

16 Employment Projections – 2014 - 2024, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dec. 8, 2015.17 The State of American Jobs, Pew Research Center, Oct. 6, 2016.