2009 Job Forecast

A recent survey from Careerbuiler reveals a lot about the job market in 2009.

More than half (56 percent) of the more than 3,200 hiring
managers and human resource professionals in private sector
companies surveyed said they have no plans to change
full-time, permanent employees in 2009, while 13 percent are
unsure of how their staffing plans will be impacted. Fourteen
percent say they plan to add employees in the new year.
At the same time, employers continue to express concern
with the shortage of skilled labor. One-in-five (19 percent)
employers reported that the quality of job applicants they are
receiving from recruitment efforts is lower than one year ago.
Nearly three-in-ten (27 percent) said they currently have open
positions for which they cannot find qualified candidates.

There is hope. Consider that 27% of companies still can’t find candidates. This only re-enforces the need to network effectively so as a candidate you can be found.