LOS ANGELES, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eleven percent of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the Los Angeles area expect to add new professional-level positions in the second quarter, according to the Los Angeles Professional Employment Forecast from Robert Half. Another 69 percent said they will not be adding new positions but will fill roles that open in the next three months. Seventeen percent of respondents will not be hiring, even to fill an open position, and 2 percent plan to reduce staff levels.

The Professional Employment Forecast was developed by Robert Half, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm. The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on interviews with more than 100 CFOs from the Los Angeles area at companies with 20 or more employees who were asked about their hiring plans for professional-level positions in the coming quarter.

CFOs were asked, "What are your company's hiring plans for full-time professional-level employees in the second quarter?" Their responses:

"As the market improves and skilled candidates become increasingly difficult to find, employers are taking proactive steps to retain their valued employees and make themselves more attractive to job seekers," said Brett Good, senior district president for Robert Half in Los Angeles. "Many companies are beginning to enhance compensation and employee perks in an effort to retain their top performers and attract talent, particularly for positions in the accounting, finance and administrative fields."

Founded in 1948, Robert Half International, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, is a recognized leader in professional staffing services. The company's specialized staffing divisions include Accountemps, Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Robert Half Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam, for highly skilled office and administrative support professionals; Robert Half Technology, for information technology professionals; Robert Half Legal, for legal personnel; and The Creative Group, for interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Robert Half International has staffing and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide. Find more information at roberthalf.com, and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/roberthalf.

Note to editors: To speak with a local expert on employment trends in the Los Angeles area, please contact Katie Evans at (925) 913-1928.

SOURCE Robert Half International