According to a recent Robert Half Technology survey, 13% of CIOs interviewed plan to add full-time IT staff in the first quarter of 2006, while 1% anticipate personnel reductions. The net 12% hiring increase compares with a net 9% forecast one year ago, and is unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2005 when the net hiring increase reached its highest level in 14 quarters.

Executives at large firms with 1,000 or more employees forecast the highest levels of IT hiring activity. States in the mountain region are expected to lead the nation in hiring activity during the first quarter.