CIOs Upbeat About Technology Hiring In First Quarter Of 2000.

Chief information officers (CIOs) are optimistic about information technology (IT) hiring in the first quarter of 2000, according to IT hiring agency RHI Consulting's quarterly Information Technology Hiring Index. Twenty-five percent of respondents plan to hire additional personnel in the next three months, while just three percent anticipate staff reductions. The net 22 percent increase is up one percentage point from fourth-quarter 1999 projections. The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CIOs from a stratified random sample of US companies with 100 or more employees.

"Demand for skilled technical talent remains high, driven in part by investment in IT initiatives previously placed on hold until completion of Y2K-related projects," says Greg Scileppi, executive director of RHI Consulting. "To attract and retain IT professionals in the current competitive market, employers are combining salary increases with a variety of compensation incentives such as stock options, performance- based pay and project completion bonuses." Scileppi adds that as companies increasingly move their mission-critical business functions online, the need for staff to develop and support web-based systems will intensify. "Companies nationwide are seeking web application developers, database designers and systems integration specialists, among others, to manage their online initiatives," he says.

Firms in the East North Central states anticipate particularly robust hiring activity during the first quarter, according to the survey. Thirty-two percent of CIOs plan to add IT staff, while none expect a decline in personnel levels. The net 32 percent increase is up 15 percentage points from the region's fourth-quarter forecast and is 10 points above the national average. "Expansion within the healthcare, automotive and financial services industries is driving IT employment in the region," says Scileppi. "Internet start-up companies in the greater Chicago area and Fortune 500 firms in Ohio, in particular, are actively hiring technology professionals to accommodate rapid growth."

CIOs in the New England and South Atlantic states also anticipate notable hiring gains during the first quarter of 2000. Both regions forecast a net 27 percent increase in hiring. "Continued economic prosperity in Massachusetts and Connecticut is creating new employment opportunities, particularly within the area's high technology and financial services sectors," Scileppi notes. "Georgia and North Carolina are seeing demand within the electronics, business services and construction industries for experienced local area network (LAN) administrators, Internet developers and systems analysts."

Also anticipating employment gains above the national average are IT executives in the East South Central region, with a net hiring increase of 25 percent. CIOs within the retail sector are most optimistic about hiring in the first quarter of 2000, according to the survey. Thirty- three percent of respondents plan to expand their IT departments, while just one percent foresee cutbacks. The resulting net 32 percent increase in hiring is 10 percentage points above the national average.

"A strong economy has spurred nationwide growth in the retail industry," Scileppi says. "As online sales set new records, traditional 'brick and mortar' retailers are hiring IT professionals to design and support e- commerce applications. Java and C++ developers, e-business strategists and help desk specialists - especially those who possess technical ability and business acumen - are particularly in demand." Staffing activity is also expected to exceed the national average in the business and professional services industries, where CIOs anticipate net increases of 31 percent and 23 percent respectively.