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Robert Half (RHI) Releases Salary Guide for Professionals (Revised)

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The recently released 2017 Salary Guides by Robert Half International Inc. (RHI - Free Report) shows rising demand for skilled professionals. The global staffing firm has been witnessing growing demand for staffing services owing to a recovering U.S. economy and an improving labor market.

According to Robert Half’s salary guide, salaries for U.S. professional occupations are expected to increase by an average of 3.6% in 2017. Among the five fields tracked, the technology sector is projected to see the greatest pay hike, with base salaries rising 3.8% on average. Accounting and finance roles are expected to get an average compensation increase of 3.7%. Legal and creative fields may each witness an increase of 3.6% in 2017, while administrative professions might expect a 3.5% increase in salary.

The company notes that employers are willing to negotiate on pay for skilled professionals, whose demand is but supply is short. Therefore, the current salary trend is expected to help employers to remain competitive, especially in the technology and finance fields, in making offers.

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Robert Half International is the world's largest specialized provider of temporary and permanent personnel in the fields of accounting and finance. The company witnessed year-over-year earnings growth, driven by solid demand for services provided by skilled professionals. The company’s international operations also improved, particularly backed by higher demand for staffing and consulting services. However, earnings growth was sluggish. In fact, the company’s earnings did not grow in double digits on a year-over-year basis, a trend witnessed over the past 24 consecutive quarters.

Robert Half’s revenues have increased year over year for the past five years, driven primarily by broad-based and higher demand for its professional staffing and consulting services owing to improved labor markets, low unemployment in numerous professional occupations and an improved economic backdrop in many of its non-U.S. markets. We note that the company has been investing heavily in technology staffing over the past few years. Its international operations have also improved in recent quarters, particularly driven by higher demand for staffing and consulting services.

With an improving economic picture, the company expects to generate accelerated global revenues in the near term. Also, U.S. health care reform and consumer protection regulations are fueling demand for the company’s services.

Robert Half currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Investors interested in the staffing industry can consider better-ranked stocks like Staffing 360 Solutions, Inc. (STAF - Free Report) and Gee Group Inc. (JOB - Free Report) . Another company from the broader consumer staple sector is Ingredion, Inc. (INGR - Free Report) . While Staffing 360 sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Gee Group and Ingredion hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued on August 31, 2016, should no longer be relied upon.)

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