TMP Worldwide Executive Search Releases Study

Study Finds Many Technology Companies Plan Modest Hiring Increases

TMP Worldwide has released the findings of a recent study polling senior U.S.-based human resources executives in the technology industry.

The results suggest the layoffs that have rocked the technology sector over the last few years may have run their course, and that many companies plan to begin selectively hiring over the next 12 months.

Conducted by TMP Worldwide''s Executive Search division, the survey set out to quantify hiring plans for 2003, elicit views on how the hiring landscape has changed, and identify what trends are likely to drive hiring in the near future.

It found that respondents are anticipating, on average, a relatively modest headcount increase of 3.7% over the coming year. Interestingly, the bulk of the hiring is expected to take place in the professional ranks.

Companies that reacted too slowly going into the recession are anxious to do a better job when the economy rebounds, said James M. Bethmann, global head of the technology sector at TMP Worldwide Executive Search.

Additionally, the survey also found that for every company planning to decrease headcount over the next year, four companies plan to increase their staff.

Technology executives are beginning to ask whether the market has found a bottom, and whether they are at risk of being caught flat-footed again--this time with too little human capital rather than too much, Bethmann continued. We believe it''s a smart question to be asking. The technology sector could be at a key inflection point in terms of investing in human capital.

A full copy of this survey, which questioned senior U.S.-based human resources executives at privately-held and publicly-traded hardware and software makers, telecommunications companies and technology-oriented business services companies, may be obtained by contacting Greg Joslyn at greg.joslyn@tmp.com About TMP Worldwide


Founded in 1967, TMP Worldwide Inc., with more than 9,000 employees in 33 countries, is the online recruitment leader, the world''s largest Recruitment Advertising agency network, and one of the world''s largest Executive Search & Executive Selection agencies. TMP Worldwide, headquartered in New York, is also the world''s largest Yellow Pages advertising agency and a provider of direct marketing services. The Company''s clients include more than 90 of the Fortune 100 and more than 490 of the Fortune 500 companies. TMP Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 Index. More information about TMP Worldwide is available at