Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects opportunities at great companies with highly skilled job seekers. The firm offers contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. A recent survey commissioned by Robert Half indicates that job seekers will have plenty of options in the coming months.

The firm, which has an office at Hacienda, asked more than 2,800 senior managers about their staffing plans. According to the results of the State of U.S. Hiring survey, 51% of respondents anticipate adding new permanent positions in the second half of 2021, and another 48% plan to fill vacated positions or bring back furloughed employees. Among the 28 U.S. cities in the survey, those with the highest percentages of employers who expect to staff up are San Diego (62%), Dallas (61%), Atlanta, and Los Angeles (58% each).

While many companies are optimistic about increasing staff levels, there will be hurdles. Senior managers predict the biggest recruiting challenges for the remainder of the year will be finding candidates with the right skills, hiring quickly enough to land the best talent, and finding candidates who complement the company culture.

"Hiring is happening across the board, and competition for talent is intensifying. Simultaneously, job seekers are becoming more discerning when evaluating opportunities," notes Robert Half Senior Executive Director Paul McDonald. "With these two forces at play, employers need to exceed candidates' expectations or risk losing them to better offers."

According to the research, some companies are pulling out the stops to entice prospective hires. The survey results indicate that 48% of the senior managers are providing signing bonuses to new employees, 43% are giving more paid time off, and 40% are offering better job titles. But there are some non-negotiables. Only 10% of senior managers are willing to overlook soft skills and certifications when recruiting for hard-to-fill roles. The qualifications they are most willing to bend on include advanced degrees (23%), years of experience (19%), and education level (14%).

Many employers are also flexible when it comes to a candidate's location. The senior managers surveyed said it can take up to seven weeks, on average, to hire for an open position; for nearly one in four employers (22%), it can take more than two months. When faced with a lengthy hiring process, 60% of managers are broadening their search beyond their companies' location to find qualified candidates.

"Professionals with in-demand skills often have their pick of jobs," says McDonald. "To stand the best chance of winning over top candidates, employers need to modernize and minimize role requirements, move quickly, and make the most competitive offer possible from the start."

The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm from June 4 to July 1, 2021. It includes responses from more than 2,800 senior managers in finance, technology, marketing, legal, administrative support, human resources, and other areas at companies with 20 or more employees.

For more information about Robert Half, please visit www.roberthalf.com.