By Christina Orlovsky, senior writer
New Year, new job, may be the new motto for many professionals
in 2007. A recent survey by CareerBuilder.com found that 40 percent of U.S.
employers plan to add positions in the next 12 months.
The 2007 Job Forecast survey conducted by Harris Interactive
for the online job site queried 2,627 hiring managers and human resources
professionals in private-sector companies to determine their projected hiring
trends for the upcoming year. Results demonstrated that 40 percent of
respondents intend to increase their number of full-time, permanent positions
this year, as compared to last year. Thirty-six percent intend to do so within
the next three months.
Only 8 percent of respondents expect to cut jobs, while 40
percent plan to remain the same.
Among those organizations that intend to add positions, 20
percent plan to hire more than 100 employees; nearly one-third (29 percent) are
seeking more than 50 new hires and 36 percent are looking to hire 10 or fewer
employees.
The recent projections are welcome news for job seekers in
2007, particularly those seeking a career in the health care industry, which is
at the top of the list for job recruitment. Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of
the professionals that will be recruited this year will be in a health care
field.
The areas of the country that will remain most active in
recruitment are the South and the West, with 44 percent of employers in the
South and 41 percent of employers in the West looking to increase their staff.
The Midwest and the Northeast followed with 38 and 36 percent, respectively.
The CareerBuilder.com survey also identified a number of
hiring trends for the upcoming year related to salary, flexible scheduling and
retiree retention.
Professionals seeking greater pay this year are in luck, as 81
percent of surveyed employers reported plans to increase salaries for existing
employees in 2007, with the majority (65 percent) aiming to raise pay by 3
percent and nearly 20 percent increasing pay by 5 percent or more. New hires can
also expect an increased first-time salary, as 49 percent of respondents
reported that they will raise the salary on initial job offers.
Identifying the importance of flexible scheduling for
professionals in all industries, the survey also asked recruiters about their
willingness to provide flexible arrangements to new hires. While 31 percent of
respondents said they were “fairly willing,” nearly one-fifth said they were
“very” or “extremely” willing to offer such arrangements as job sharing or
alternate scheduling.
Additionally, recognizing that the Baby Boomer generation is
at or approaching retirement age, companies are also focusing on strategies to
retain or rehire retired workers. Twenty percent of employers surveyed said they
intend to rehire retirees from other companies or offer incentives to retain
workers nearing retirement.
For more information, visit CareerBuilder.com.
© 2007. AMN Healthcare, Inc. All Rights Reserved.