According to the December survey of 156 senior-level executives, 45% are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve during the next six months. Short-term confidence (next three months) spiked to 38% of executives indicating they are "confident" or "very confident" that there will be improvement — a 10-point leap from the previous month.
On average, the six-month confidence level for 2007 was 42% expressing they were "confident" or "very confident" compared to 40% in 2006.
"Executives are going into 2008 on a confident note, and 21% said they saw improvement in the overall conditions in the executive job market in the past 30 days," says Mark Anderson, president of ExecuNet. "Thirty-six percent of executive recruiters saw their staffs increase in the last three months, which means their gearing up for a strong hiring season."
ExecuNet's December companion survey of 138 executive recruiters found that 59% were "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve during the next six months; and 56% were "confident" or "very confident" about the coming three months — down from 58% last month. Also, 57% of search firm recruiters said they planned to hire additional staff in the next three months to meet the 19% expected growth in search assignments.
ExecuNet, the original senior executive business and recruiting network, provides exclusive access to confidential six-figure job listings, expert advice, and high-level business connections for professionals while assisting corporate and search firm recruiters to find qualified executive candidates. Founded in 1988, ExecuNet helped transform the executive recruiting industry by launching the first online community designed to bring together senior-level professionals and search firms in a confidential, trusted network. Based in Norwalk, Conn., ExecuNet is a recognized authority in executive recruiting trends and proprietary employment market research.
The following are some recent positions filled by ExecuNet members:
CEO; High Tech; $150K
Pres; Manufacturing; $250K
Dev Special; Pharm; $110K
Dir Sales; Consumer; $150K
Manager; Mfg.; $100K
"Thank you for the periodic words of wisdom and encouragement. The job search process is very interesting and very much a people oriented (networking) process. I have made several new networking contacts through ExecuNet."
