Just when we all thought the Global Financial Crisis was solidly behind us, a smattering of not-so-great news reports has people getting jittery all over again. While it’s true that overall unemployment in the U.S. is far too high for comfort, and there are serious concerns about European debt, I am not convinced that a double-dip recession is imminent. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher actually DECREASED to 3.9% last month.
Furthermore, Manpower has released its quarterly employment outlook survey for the US, and is also reporting good news on the hiring front. Employer hiring confidence continues to increase. There have been two consecutive quarters of positive outlooks in all industries, in all four U.S. regions, for the first time since 2008. Over half of U.S. employers report they cannot find the qualified talent they need to fill their open positions.
Translation: It’s a great time to be an independent recruiter.
A recent post on ERE.net cites several surveys that indicate IT hiring is increasing. Wanted Analytics is also reporting similar increases in IT and high-tech job openings. I thought I would review IT split placements made by NPA members this year to see if there is a similar trend. I was very pleased to discover that our global recruiters have made nearly 50% more IT split placements in 2012 vs. 2011 (YTD through May 31)! Split placements have occurred globally, across multiple industries. Some of the job titles have been:
- Senior Director of IT Infrastructure
- IT Trainer & Help Desk Supervisor
- Director of Software Development
- Field Applications Engineers
- SQL Server DBAs
- Web Designers & Developers
- ERP Specialists
Don’t buy into the hype about the unemployment numbers and the lackluster economy. There are lots of job openings, especially in IT and high-tech fields, and a dearth of highly skilled candidates. Salaries are increasing, which means independent recruiters stand to make more money as well. Independent recruiters who have strong global connections will be the biggest winners. Split placements can be a strong source of new revenue, allowing independent recruiters to make more placements, more efficiently.
The sun is shining. Go make some hay.
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