More Than Half of U.S. Companies Plan to Add New Positions in the Second Half of 2024

Rhea-AI Summary

Robert Half's State of U.S. Hiring Survey reveals 52% of companies plan to add new permanent positions in the second half of 2024, while 57% expect to hire contract workers. Despite a slight decrease from the first half of 2024, hiring intentions remain strong across various specializations. 86% of employers report hiring challenges, including lack of skilled applicants, hiring speed, and meeting salary expectations. To attract talent, companies are offering hybrid work options (41%), flexible hours (41%), and higher starting salaries (38%). The survey highlights the importance of strategic hiring plans and retention strategies in a competitive job market.

Positive

• 52% of companies plan to add new permanent positions in H2 2024
• 57% of companies expect to hire contract workers
• 43% plan to fill vacated positions
• Hiring intentions remain strong across various specializations
• 62% of managers are willing to be flexible on years of experience for skilled candidates
• Companies are offering attractive benefits like hybrid work options and higher starting salaries

Negative

• 86% of employers report hiring challenges
• Lack of applicants with required skills (48%)
• Difficulty in hiring quickly enough to land the best talent (48%)
• Challenges in meeting candidates' salary expectations (48%)
• 10 percentage point decrease in plans to hire contract professionals compared to H1 2024

• 52% plan to add new permanent roles; 57% expect to hire contract workers
• Despite plans to add new positions, hiring challenges persist

MENLO PARK, Calif., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half suggests hiring will keep pace for the remainder of the year. According to the company's State of U.S. Hiring Survey, 52% of companies report plans to add new permanent positions in the second half of the year. Another 43% plan to fill for vacated positions, and 57% said they plan to increase the number of contract professionals on staff, down 10 percentage points from the first half of 2024.

Hiring Plans for Permanent Staff
	First Half 2024	Second Half 2024
Adding new positions	57 %	52 %
Filling vacated positions	39 %	43 %
Not adding new or filling vacated positions	2 %	4 %
Eliminating positions	1 %	0 %

Hiring Plans by Specialization
	First Half 2024	Second Half 2024
Finance and Accounting	43 %	45 %
Technology	69 %	58 %
Marketing and Creative	55 %	48 %
Legal	60 %	50 %
Administrative and Customer Support	47 %	49 %
Human Resources	48 %	56 %

View a breakdown of hiring plans by specialization and city.

Hiring Challenges Persist
According to the survey, the top factors influencing hiring decisions include company growth (57%), employee turnover (47%) and project-based work requiring skilled talent (42%). However, most employers (86%) report hiring challenges, and their major areas of concern include: 

• Lack of applicants with the required skills (48%)
• Hiring quickly enough to land the best talent (48%)
• Meeting candidates' salary expectations (48%)

Given these challenges, nearly two-thirds (62%) of managers said they'd be willing to bend on years of experience if the candidate possessed the skills needed for the open role.

Read more about The Demand for Skilled Talent. 

"Today's workers are more selective when it comes to making a career move," said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. "Employers should have a strategic hiring plan in place and remain flexible in order to land in-demand talent and keep projects on track and workloads in check."

Attracting Talent Requires a Strategic Approach
To land the best talent and stand out from the competition, hiring managers are implementing proactive strategies and offering:

• Hybrid jobs where workers can spend time at home and in-office (41%)
• Windowed work, allowing teams to work outside of typical business hours (41%)
• Higher starting salaries (38%)

Fay emphasized, "While hiring remains a priority, employers shouldn't lose sight of their current workforce. Skilled talent is still in high demand, so it's crucial to prioritize retention strategies to keep your best employees on board."

About the Research
The online survey was developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in June 2024. It includes responses from more than 2,500 managers with hiring responsibilities in finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and human resources at companies with 20 or more employees in the U.S.

About Robert Half
Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti^®, a global consulting firm that delivers internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. In the past 12 months, Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune^® Most Admired Companies™ and 100 Best Companies to Work For and a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity. Explore talent solutions, research and insights at roberthalf.com.

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SOURCE Robert Half

FAQ

What percentage of U.S. companies plan to add new permanent positions in H2 2024 according to Robert Half (RHI)?

According to Robert Half's State of U.S. Hiring Survey, 52% of U.S. companies plan to add new permanent positions in the second half of 2024.

How many companies plan to hire contract workers in H2 2024 based on Robert Half's (RHI) survey?

Based on Robert Half's survey, 57% of companies plan to increase the number of contract professionals on staff in the second half of 2024.

What are the top hiring challenges reported by employers in Robert Half's (RHI) 2024 survey?

The top hiring challenges reported are lack of applicants with required skills (48%), hiring quickly enough to land the best talent (48%), and meeting candidates' salary expectations (48%).

What strategies are companies using to attract talent according to Robert Half's (RHI) 2024 survey?

Companies are offering hybrid jobs (41%), windowed work allowing flexible hours (41%), and higher starting salaries (38%) to attract talent.