As we close out 2019, we are pleased to report that 92 Hiring and Human Resource Managers participated in the most recent installment of the Fall 2019 Alaant Hiring Index.
Notable facts include the following:
- Capital Region employers are bullish on hiring for 2020
- 80% are optimistic or very optimistic about job growth
- 70% said hiring increased over the second half of 2019
- 59% expect hiring to rise in the first half of 2020
- National issues won’t impact plans for local hiring
- 90% say talk of recession won’t limit local hiring
- 95% say neither trade issues nor the presidential election will limit local hiring
- Hiring remains a major challenge
- 92% said hiring was a significant challenge or challenging in the second half of 2019
- 84% expect hiring to be a significant challenge or challenging in the first half of 2020
- Both are the highest numbers since the survey was launched in 2015
- Hiring takes time
- 43% say it takes 2 months to fill an open position
- 12% say it takes 3 months or longer
- The skills gap (40%) and salary/wage demands (38%) are the biggest obstacles
- 81% say they are finding employees locally
- The fastest-growing job sectors:
- Healthcare positions are named by 36% of employers — the first time healthcare has been #1
- IT was second at 19%
- Customer service / sales / marketing was third at 10%
As we continue to move forward, for now, the greatest takeaways are that the Capital Region’s economy remains strong heading into 2020 with employers optimistic about job growth and planning to hire. However, the hiring market is the most challenging it has been to date. To be successful employers will need to be proactive and creative to attract, acquire, engage, and retain the employees that keep their business running.
