Dive Brief:
- The latest DHI Hiring Indicators report claims May 2017 broke the previous April 2017 record of the most jobs filled. In May, the average job requisition was closed in 27.6 working days (down nearly 3 days from the previous month).
- Jobs that saw the most movement included those in the financial services, information and resources industries, with vacancies being filled up to 10 days faster. Positions listing skills of solution development, security, app development, data and systems experienced the least amount of applications — indicating the market is still experiencing candidate shortages in these areas.
- Michael Durney, President and CEO of DHI Group, Inc. said it's too early to predict where things are headed, because sourcing and attracting skilled tech candidates is still a pain point for many companies. He advises companies to develop cultures that appeal to technical professionals' needs and career goals, focusing on employer branding.
Dive Insight:
The DHI Hiring Indicators report, which pulls data from Dice.com as well as other niche job boards and government data, offers valuable insight to recruiters on how the market is shaping up. Being able to fill job openings in the financial sector almost 10 days sooner is remarkable, especially in May 2017, which is post-tax filing season for most.
But clearly, the U.S. labor market is still hurting for specialized skills in the information technology market. With the increased speculation on the future of the H-1B visa and few answers so far, employers haven't been able to depend upon a steady stream of immigrant talent to make up losses. If employers hope to attract the tech talent they need to sustain their businesses, they have essentially two choices: Put in the hard work every day to establish a solid employer brand, or start training internal employees to manage the jobs that aren't yet filled.
