Increased Hiring in 2011

By The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC)

Hiring continues to rise following a 29% come back for senior executive recruiting in 2010 against the lows of 2009 according to the Association of Executive Search Consultants’ (AESC) first quarter 2011 report…

First Quarter Report Shows Increased Senior Executive Hiring Activity in Europe

Following a 29 per cent come back for senior executive recruiting in 2010 against the lows of 2009, the Association of Executive Search Consultants’ (AESC) first quarter 2011 report on the retained executive search industry showed signs of steady growth and reason for confidence in the year ahead. Despite a slow start, first quarter data revealed a 7 per cent rise in the number of new executive searches started worldwide from the fourth quarter of 2010.

Peter Felix, President of the AESC, commented: “Our first quarter industry statistics demonstrate that demand for execu­tive talent is being sustained at the recovery levels of 2010 and that a solid foundation is being created for further growth in 2011, in spite of the sporadic economic and political instability of the past few months.”

Senior executive hiring within the Consumer Goods and Technology industries saw the greatest quarter-on-quarter strength, with the Life Sciences/Healthcare and Industrial sectors following closely behind. Executive search activity in the Financial Services sector fell against its quarterly and yearly levels in Q1 2011, but having witnessed positive year-on-year growth since the fourth quarter of 2009.

The regional picture highlighted increased executive search activity in Europe, particularly in Germany (+34%), the UK (+14%), and France (+9%) - rising from Q4 2010 to Q1 2011 - and also increasing year-on-year. North America continued its already steady return from the low point of 2009, following a predicted pattern of early recessional recovery ahead of Europe.

Felix continued: “Of particular note are the increases now being experienced in the major countries of Europe such as Germany, the UK and France and in global industries such as Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Health Care and Technology. On the softer side has been demand from the Financial Services sector which has held up its hand for a period of diges­tion after the gluttony of 2010. All in all the search industry’s fortunes are positive and are linked to the universal feeling of optimism and renewed growth which is being experienced in major parts of the world.”

The Asia Pacific region showed little quarterly change in senior executive hiring in Q1 2011, but held a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in new searches started from Q1 2010 to Q1 2011. Central/South America witnessed a 13 per cent quarterly decline in the number of new searches started in the first quarter of 2011 against Q4 2010, but saw no change in year-on-year search activity.

*Data for these questions represents 1500 consultants in 46 countries.

About McKinney Consulting: McKinney Consulting is an executive search firm (sometimes simplified as executive recruiters or headhunters) which has placed hundreds of bi-lingual middle-senior level executives for multinational companies in Korea & Asia and was established in 2001. McKinney Consulting is a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC). In addition, McKinney Consulting provides behavioral-based coaching services with scientifically developed tools in coaching executives and businesses to excellence and success. McKinney Consulting coaches are members of the International Coaching Council. Also, McKinney offers Talent Management services such as the outsourcing of candidates and payroll services etc.