Job Outlook Strong For Executives

Executive search firms expect job growth will accelerate in the second and third quarters of 2007, according to ExecuNetís Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI). With two-thirds of all recruiters (67%) reporting there is already a shortage of qualified talent in the market, increasing executive demand will test corporate Americaís ability to retain prized talent.

Introduced in May 2003, the Recruiter Confidence Index is based on a monthly survey of thousands of executive recruiters conducted by ExecuNet (www.execunet.com), the leading executive career, business and recruiting network. Independent analysis of the RCI has confirmed it is a leading indicator for the executive search industry.

According to the survey of 131 executive recruiters, 67% are confident or very confident the executive employment market will improve during the next six months - down from 77% one month ago.

ìThe executive employment market is off to a great start in 2007 - with no signs of a slowdown on the horizon,î says Mark Anderson, President of ExecuNet. ìThis sustained growth will test the recruiting and retention strategies of companies big and small and could impact corporate profit growth, as the costs of talent acquisition climb.î

Recruitersí short-term outlook was bullish in March, as 74% said they are confident or very confident the employment market will improve in the next three months. During this period of time, the executive recruiting industry is expecting a 22% increase in the number of assignments received from clients. This forecast is well supported by the search industryís own growth. In March, almost half of all search firms (48%) reported plans to hire additional professional staff during the next three months - up significantly from the percentage of firms that added staff in the first quarter (33%).

ExecuNet, the leading executive career, business and recruiting network, provides exclusive access to high-level business connections for professionals, confidential six-figure job listings, expert advice and proprietary research while helping corporate and search firm recruiters find qualified executive candidates. Founded in 1988, ExecuNet helped transform the executive recruiting industry by launching the first website designed to bring senior-level professionals and search firms together in a cooperative, confidential environment to understand how to meet their human capital needs.

Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, ExecuNet is a recognized authority in executive recruiting trends and proprietary employment market research. For more information, visit: