Dec 13, 2017   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Charlotte Ranks Among Top 12 Cities For Tech Hiring In First Half Of 2018

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology hiring in Charlotte is expected to start strong in 2018, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Forecast and Local Trend Report. Twenty-five percent of CIOs surveyed here said they plan to add full-time technology professionals to their teams in the first half of the new year, up 13 percentage points from a year ago. In addition to hiring plans, the report also highlights technology skills in demand and CIOs' top priorities for the first six months of the year.

"Companies in many industries - such as manufacturing, healthcare, distribution and logistics - are growing and thriving in Charlotte, and in turn, investing in tech hiring," said Lucy Marino, regional manager for Robert Half Technology in Charlotte. "Many of these organizations are beefing up their security initiatives, cloud infrastructure and IT management departments, which is driving demand for talent."

Top 12 Cities for Tech Hiring in 2018

In addition to the forecasted 25 percent hiring growth, 61 percent of technology leaders here expect to maintain staff levels by filling vacant roles. The demand for talent places Charlotte on the list of U.S. cities where tech hiring is expected to grow the most in the first half of 2018:

    1. San Diego
    2. Atlanta
    3. New York
    4. Austin, Texas
    5. Charlotte
    6. Minneapolis
    7. Philadelphia
    8. Des Moines, Iowa
    9. Miami
    10. Cleveland
    11. Phoenix
    12. Salt Lake City

Hiring Challenges and Skills in Demand

It continues to be a competitive hiring environment: 61 percent of CIOs in Charlotte said that it's challenging to find skilled IT professionals in today's market. The skills in greatest demand within their organizations, according to respondents, include:

    1. Wireless network management (49 percent)
    2. Desktop support (47 percent)
    3. Telecommunications support (VoIP) (46 percent)

Top Priorities

When asked to name their top priority for the next six months, 29 percent of Charlotte CIOs said they will focus on maintaining security of IT systems and safeguarding company information. Other priorities will include:

    --  Innovation or helping grow the business (22 percent)
    --  Staff retention (20 percent)
    --  Upgrading existing systems for business efficiency (18 percent)
    --  Technology innovation and investing in new technologies (11 percent)

"Charlotte tech candidates are expecting top dollar for job offers. They are considering everything from compensation, benefits, work/life balance, bonuses and future plans for raises and growth," added Marino.

About Robert Half Technology

With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at roberthalf.com/technology. Visitors can also request a copy of the Robert Half Technology 2018 Salary Guide, which includes a wide range of IT job descriptions.

Survey Methodology

The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology and conducted by an independent research firm. To ensure that companies from all segments were represented in the study, the sample was stratified by number of employees. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

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SOURCE Robert Half Technology