A net 15 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) in the Cleveland area expect to hire information technology (IT) professionals in the second quarter of 2008, according to the most recent Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. Eighteen percent of executives surveyed plan to add staff during the quarter and 3 percent anticipate reductions in personnel. The net 15 percent increase is up five points from the area's first-quarter 2008 forecast and three points above the national average.

The local results reflect a two-quarter rolling average based on interviews with 200 CIOs from a stratified random sample of companies in the Cleveland area with 100 or more employees; 1,400 executives were queried for the national data. (To view the national results, visit ) The studies were conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half Technology has been tracking IT hiring activity in the United States since 1995.

"Companies are investing in new initiatives and technologies such as server and network virtualization, Voice over Internet Protocol and feature-rich, Web 2.0-type websites," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "These investments are leading to greater demand for IT professionals with experience in these areas," Lee added.

With more than 100 locations in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis, for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. For more information about Robert Half Technology or to learn about online job search opportunities, please visit .