Executive Recruiter Optimism Grows

Recent surveys of executive recruiter outlook on the executive job market indicate near-record highs in confidence. ExecuNet’s August survey reveals a generally bullish attitude regarding ongoing market growth, with 71% being confident or very confident of improvement in the next 6 months. Expectations are for a 17% increase in assignment volume from corporate clients over the next 6 months.

With continuing good news of profit growth and solid economic indicators, businesses have felt the confidence to expand payrolls, leading to plans by 48% of search firms to hire additional professional staff in the near term.

With regard to the industry-specific job picture, recruiters expect the greatest growth in Pharmaceutical/Biotech, Healthcare, Financial Services, High Tech, and Business Services. However, there appears to be solid growth in virtually all market segments, raising the specter of high executive turnover as a concern for employers.