If you're one of the millions of Americans looking for work, here's a bit of good news. According to a survey by CareerBuilder.com, your prospect for finding work could be improving.
But it will depend on the field you're in as well as where you are in the country.
Hiring blitz?
According to CareerBuilder's annual job forecast, more employers plan to add full-time, permanent headcount in 2011 compared with 2010, with a continued emphasis on hiring in technology and revenue-producing fields.
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive from November 15 to December 2 and included more than 2,400 hiring managers and human resource professionals across industries and company sizes.
Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder says more than half of employers reported they are in a better financial position today than they were one year ago and that 2011 will usher in a healthier employment picture as business leaders grow more confident in the economy.
He added that although the survey indicates more jobs will be added in 2011 than 2010, job creation will remain gradual.
Hiring plans
The survey found 24 percent of employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees in 2011, up from 20 percent in 2010 and 14 percent in 2009. Meanwhile, seven percent plan to decrease headcount -- a slight improvement from the nine percent in 2010 and 16 percent in 2009. Another 58 percent anticipate no change in their staff levels while 11 percent are unsure.
As for part-time hiring, 13 percent expect to hire part-time employees in the next 12 months, up from 11 percent in 2010 and nine percent in 2009. Some five percent plan to decrease part-time help, an improvement from eight percent in 2010 and 14 percent in 2009. Approximately 71 percent anticipate no change in their staff levels while 12 percent are unsure.
Businesses will be relying on interim solutions to help shoulder growing workloads. One-third of hiring managers (34 percent) reported they will hire contract or temporary workers to supplement leaner staffs in 2011, up from 30 percent last year and 28 percent in 2009.
Of those hiring, nearly one-in-four (24 percent) expect to add more than last year. Some 39 percent plan to transition some contract or temporary staff into full-time, permanent employees.
Hiring areas
Among employers who plan to increase their full-time, permanent headcount in 2011, Sales is the most popular functional area they will be hiring for as they focus on expanding their customer base and market penetration.
The top ten functional areas for recruitment include:
- Sales - 27 percent
- Information Technology - 26 percent
- Customer Service - 25 percent
- Engineering - 21 percent
- Technology - 19 percent
- Administrative - 17 percent
- Business Development - 17 percent
- Marketing - 17 percent
- Research/Development - 15 percent
- Accounting/Finance - 14 percent Hiring
By region
Similar to last year's forecast, more employers in the West plan to recruit new employees in 2011 than other regions. About 26 percent of hiring managers in the West reported they plan to add full-time, permanent headcount followed by 24 percent in the Northeast and 23 percent in the Midwest and South.
Plans to downsize staffs are trending below the last two years with eight percent of employers in the South expecting to decrease headcount followed by seven percent in the Northeast, Midwest and West.
Company size
While small businesses have been slower to recover, hiring is gradually improving among companies of all sizes. About 30 percent of employers with more than 250 employees plan to increase full-time, permanent headcount in 2011, followed by 27 percent of employers with 51 to 250 employees, and 14 percent of employers with 50 or less employees.
Compensation
As for compensation, 41 percent of employers are concerned that their best talent will leave their organizations once the economy improves, as heftier workloads and longer hours take their toll on worker morale. Therefore, 67 percent said they will increase compensation for their existing staff in 2011, compared with 57 percent in 2010. While most employers estimate the average raise will be three percent or less, one-in-ten (10 percent) expect the average increase will be five percent or more.
