Leading Index Points To More Job Growth

With US economic growth rising sharply, recruiters remain optimistic that job growth will accelerate during the next six months. In April, ExecuNetís Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI) hugged its all-time high - despite rising energy costs and interest rates.

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 249 executive recruiters, 79% are confident or very confident that the executive employment market will improve during the next six months - edging down slightly from its all time high of 80% in March. During the next two quarters, the executive search industry is expecting a 26% increase in the number of six-figure job assignments received from corporate clients.

Executive recruitersí short-term outlook broke new ground in April, as a record high 85% of recruiters said they are confident or very confident the employment market will improve in the next three months - up from 79% one month ago.

ìExpectations for job growth at the executive level are high but very realistic based on the increase we have seen in job listings at ExecuNet this year,î says Mark Anderson, President of ExecuNet. ìCorporate earnings growth was strong in the first quarter of the year, which suggests the employment market will remain attractive to executives looking to change jobs in the months ahead.î

To prepare for sustained growth in the employment market, 57% of all executive search firms have plans to hire additional professional staff during the next three months. In the last three months, 35% of executive recruiting firms have added professional staff.

ìFacing a significant increase in the demand for talent, recruiters are moving quickly to expand the quality of their professional networks across industries and throughout the executive suite,î Anderson said.

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.