A recent survey done each year by CareerBuilder found 23 percent of employers plan to hire full-time, permanent workers this year. The number of companies who plan to hire new workers has not changed much over the last two years—with 24 percent in 2011 and 20 percent back in 2010. Career Builder’s annual job forecast also found 59 percent of companies anticipate no changes regarding number of staff and 11 percent report being unsure if there will be any changes.
Seven percent of companies report plans to decrease its number of employees. This is the same percentage from 2011 and came in at nine percent back in 2010.
The survey also outlined some trends you should be on the lookout for this year:
  • Pay is expected to get more competitive for skilled positions. Sixty-two percent of companies plan to increase compensation for current employees and 32 percent will begin offering higher beginning salaries for new hires. Largest compensation increases are related to revenue generation (such as information technology, sales, business development and engineering).
  • Voluntary turnover is on the rise. Thirty-four percent of HR departments report voluntary turnover increased in 2011. Top reasons provided for leaving included feeling overworked and the desire to make more money. 
  • Companies bridge the skills gap by providing training. There are many areas where demand for skilled jobs is increasing faster than supply. Thirty-eight percent say they will train people who don’t have experience in their specific industry and will hire them for jobs within their company in 2012.
  • Employers will target Hispanic workers, African-American workers and woman. Twenty percent will recruit African-American and Hispanic employees to work for them and the same percentage will be recruiting more women. Forty-four percent say they will hire bilingual workers this year. 
Harris Interactive conducted the online survey for CareerBuilder with more than 3,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals.

Modern Business Associates is an HR company that focuses on payroll and HR outsourcing. We routinely work with clients on hiring trends. As a Professional Payroll and HR outsource organization, our clients rely on us to help them effectively deal with these kinds of topics.