Hiring picture brightens for 2011

Orlando Business Journal

More employers plan to add full-time, permanent workers in 2011 than they did at this time last year, according to a CareerBuilder survey of almost 2,500 hiring managers and human-resource professionals.

Twenty-four percent of employers plan to hire full-time, permanent employees in 2011, up from 20 percent in 2010 and 14 percent in 2009. Seven percent plan to cut jobs, an improvement from 9 percent in 2010 and 16 percent in 2009. Fifty-eight percent anticipate no change in their staff levels, while 11 percent are unsure.

The survey finds opportunities in sales to be the most prevalent, followed by information technology, customer service, engineering and technology.

“More than half of employers reported they are in a better financial position today than they were one year ago,” says Matt Ferguson, CEO at CareerBuilder. “2011 will usher in a healthier employment picture as business leaders grow more confident in the economy. Our survey indicates more jobs will be added in 2011 than 2010, but job creation will remain gradual. The year will be characterized by steady, measured gains across various industries.”

Florida's unemployment rate hit 12 percent in November, while metro Orlando's rose from 11.3 percent in October to 11.9 percent in November.

The industries gaining the most jobs in Florida are in private education and health services, up 28,900 jobs in the last year, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.