Employers Continue to Report Accounting and Finance Skills Shortage

A Robert Half news release said that for the second consecutive year, more than half (56%) of the finance and human resources managers surveyed worldwide reported difficulty finding skilled job candidates. In addition, 58% of respondents worldwide and 73% of respondents in the United States expressed concern about losing their top performers to other job opportunities, up from 43% and 46%, respectively, in 2007.

Respondents said they are holding an average of three interviews per candidate before filling staff-level positions, compared to only two interviews last year, according to the news release. Employers also reported using project professionals more often, and at more senior levels, than during the last three years.

Robert Half also found that industry knowledge and experience replaced regulatory compliance expertise as the most important job candidate attribute for hiring managers surveyed from the United States.

The global study was developed by Robert Half International and conducted by an independent research firm. It includes responses from more than 4,000 finance and human resources managers in 20 countries.