Confidence in the employment market reaches new high

ExecuNet, a leader in executive-level job and networking opportunities, has released the results of its December Recruiter Confidence Index. The recent survey of 211 recruiters reveals search professionals are becoming more positive about the executive employment market in the first half of 2004.

An increasing number of recruiters (72%) are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve in the six months ahead, surpassing the previous high of 67% reached in October. In November, 63% of recruiters were confident or very confident the executive employment market would improve in the six months ahead.

Just 2% of search firm professionals are not confident the employment market will improve in the first half of 2004.

Recruiters are also growing more confident about the market s short-term prospects - 47% are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve in the next 3 months - up from 29% last month.

With the economy gaining strength, recruiters are expecting to see a significant increase in new job opportunities during the first half of 2004, says Mark Anderson, President of ExecuNet. As the demand for talent heats up, we expect employed executives to become more proactive in seeking new opportunities - generating turnover that will create even more openings.

According to the survey, 70% of recruiters report that business conditions in the executive search industry improved during the last 30 days, up from 59% last month.

To prepare for increased activity in the employment market in 2004, 47% of recruiters say that their firm has plans to hire additional professional staff in the next three months - up from 35% in November.

All signs suggest 2004 will be a better year for recruiters and executives who are looking for new opportunities, says Anderson. To take full advantage of this job growth the time to act is now.

ExecuNet, a career management and recruiting resource center for executives and recruiters, helps its members identify career opportunities and attain professional success through job listings, expert networking tactics, and career advancement strategies. Founded in 1988, ExecuNet also serves recruiters and corporations as a leading source of top-tier talent and proprietary research on recruiting trends and best practices.