Recruiter Confidence At All-Time High

Recruitersí outlook for the executive employment market improved in March, sending ExecuNetís Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI) to its all-time high, as surging U.S. corporate profit growth continues to fuel new job creation.

Introduced in May 2003, the Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI) is based on a monthly survey of executive recruiters conducted by ExecuNet, the leading executive job search and recruiting network. Independent analysis of the RCI has confirmed it is a ìleading indicatorî for the executive search industry.

According to the survey of 100 executive recruiters, 80% are confident or very confident that the executive employment market will improve during the next six months ñ up from 76% in February. During this period of time, the executive search industry is expecting a 27% increase in the number of six-figure recruiting assignments received from corporate clients.

Executive recruitersí short-term outlook also improved in March, as 79% are confident or very confident the employment market will improve in the next three months ñ up from 77% one month ago.

ìBased on the volume of job listings posted with ExecuNet during the first quarter, itís evident that companies are focused on strengthening and developing their executive teams,î says Mark Anderson, President of ExecuNet. ìIf executive-level hiring continues on its current course, companies will be forced to confront a talent shortage before the year ends.î

To prepare for sustained growth in the employment market, 58% of all executive search firms have plans to hire additional professional staff in the second quarter. In the first quarter of 2006, 37% of executive recruiting firms added professional staff.

ExecuNet, a career management and recruiting network for top executives and recruiters, is a recognized authority in executive hiring and recruiting trends. ExecuNet helps members identify career opportunities and attain professional success by providing exclusive job postings, opportunities and tactics designed to expand personal and professional networks, and career advancement strategies.

Founded in 1988, ExecuNet also serves recruiters and corporations as a leading source of top-tier executive talent and proprietary research. For more information on ExecuNet visit