Across all areas in North America, the hiring outlook is improving for administrative as well as commercial jobs, according to a recent hiring trends survey conducted by staffing company Express Employment Professionals.
The survey, which interviewed more than 25,000 current and former Express clients in the United States and Canada, finds that hiring trends for the second quarter are believed to be the strongest for commercial and light industrial positions as 32 percent of respondents say they plan to hire new employees. This marks an increase of 3 percent from the first quarter.
Among the respondents, 28 percent say they expect to bring in more administrative and office clerical employees, an 8 percent increase from the previous quarter. Another 43 percent of respondents say they anticipate filling roles in other sectors, including include clinical and health care; customer service; food service; general labor; maintenance; medical, dental and nursing; and sales.
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"As the economy continues to recover from the recession, we are seeing more employers increase their production and add to their staff," says Robert A. Funk, CEO and chairman of the board for Express. "In addition to the number of commercial and administrative positions increasing, we are also seeing an increase in professional positions."
The survey also reveals that 11 percent of respondents say they expect to hire staff for engineering positions. Ten percent of respondents say they plan to hire for positions within accounting and finance, and 8 percent of respondents say they will hire for marketing and information technology roles.
Although many respondents are planning on bringing in new staff, they report having trouble recruiting and filling positions. In fact, more than 50 percent of respondents say they have difficulty doing so.
"Recruiting and retaining top talent is more important than ever to small businesses," Funk says. "To ensure a good fit, identify whether a hiring candidate's core values match those of the company."
As respondents are considering new hires, 99 percent believe an applicant's attitude is the most important characteristic when making a hiring decision.
"Starting your career in today's hiring environment can be challenging, including making a positive, memorable impression with people who could be your employer," Funk says. "It's important to show your positive attitude and offer solutions on how you can help the company."
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