Modest hiring of professional expected in early 2012

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According to a study from Dice Holdings, about half of America’s recruiters and hiring managers expect to be adding staff in the first half of 2012 despite continued economic sluggishness and weak confidence levels. Continued modest growth in private-sector employment is cited as a reason for at least some confidence.


47% expect to be adding staff – and while that is slightly down from the result Dice produced prior to the second half of the current year – 51% — it was still seen as a perhaps surprisingly optimistic result.

43% of those surveyed said their plans have been in place and are unchanged, but 21% said they have seen positive signs and have decided to hire more than originally anticipated. However, the dark cloud inside the silver lining is the 30% who have adjusted downward.

“With so much uncertainty in the air when it comes to the economy and job creation, it’s a surprisingly positive sign that nearly half of respondents are optimistic about hiring at the start of 2012,” said Scot Melland, Chairman, President and CEO of Dice Holdings, Inc. “Although modest in size, we’ve added private-sector jobs for 20 months now, and that modest job growth looks set to continue. We need to focus on removing any hurdles that impede companies from investing in America’s talent.”

15% of the companies surveyed believe that layoffs are in the future for the next six months, a slightly worse reading than at the midpoint of 2011, when the result was 12%.