By Monica Chen

mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636

DURHAM — Employers are striking a more positive note on hiring than earlier this year, according to a recent survey by Robert Half International, a staff recruitment firm, and CareerBuilder, the online job search site.

The survey of 501 hiring managers nationwide showed, unsurprisingly in this recession, that managers are finding it easier to find new workers, and job seekers say it’s more challenging to find a job than a year ago.

However, 44 percent of respondents also said the résumés they receive are from unqualified applicants, and 47 percent of hiring managers cited under-qualified applicants as their most common hiring challenge.

“This may suggest that candidates eager to find work are not ensuring they meet job requirements before submitting their résumés. There also is a group of candidates who are qualified but still employed, and reluctant to leave the security of their current positions,” the report stated.

Many companies are already laying the groundwork for growth in the post-Recession market, said the report. And about 45 percent of workers said they plan to change employers, careers or industries when the economy recovers.

Lauren Coke, regional manager for Robert Half overseeing the Triangle and the Triad, said the area is seeing an uptick in hiring of project professionals — temporary, contract workers.

“A lot of companies are still cautious about making long-term hirings,” she said.

For the fourth-quarter hiring outlook, 6 percent of chief financial officers in the Triangle and the Triad said they expect to add accounting and finance staff, according to Robert Half. Meanwhile, 12 percent expect personnel cuts, and 81 percent reported no change in hiring.

As the economy continues its recovery, Coke said there will be an uptick in customer service and sales hirings.

“One of the first things companies want to do is make sure they are providing good customer service, and retain customers,” she said. “Then as they start developing the business side, they’ll look to their sales staff.”

On the positive note for jobseekers, the average time to recruit a new full-time employee is 4.5 to 14.4 weeks, about the same range as last year. Six in 10 managers also said their companies are willing to negotiate higher compensation for qualified candidates.

Nationally, employers plan in the next year to hire full-time employees, cited by 53 percent of respondents, contract or temporary workers (40 percent) and part-time workers (39 percent).

Forty-four percent of respondents expect the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to create job opportunities in their organizations in the next two years.

WHERE THE JOBS ARE NOW

"Of the following, which functions are most critical to your organization in a down economy?"

1. Customer service

2. Sales

3. Marketing/creative

4. Technology

5. Public relations/communications

6. Business development

7. Accounting/finance

WHERE THE JOBS WILL BE

"Once the economy turns around, which departments within your organization do you think will add positions first?"

1. Technology

2. Customer service

3. Sales

4. Marketing/creative

5. Business development

6. Human resources

7. Accounting/finance

Source: Robert Half International and CareerBuilder survey of 501 hiring managers