Businesses could increase 2012 hiring through smart communications investments

A new report released by CareerBuilder on December 28 indicates that the overall job market isn’t likely to see a major shift until the latter half of 2012, though the researchers noted that this improvement would still require improvements in the overall economy.

Overall, the study found that roughly 23 percent of employers plan to hire full-time employees at some point during the new year. However, the most notable statistic researchers found may be that a majority – 59 percent – anticipate that their current staff levels will remain unchanged.

Small business hiring statistics were a bit more optimistic, the survey indicated. For instance, the number of companies that plan to downsize staff decreased by two percentage points from the previous year’s figures. In addition, certain employees may be more in demand. IT, engineering and sales professionals are expected to garner higher salaries in 2012.

“Many companies have been operating lean and have already pushed productivity limits,” Matt Ferguson, CareerBuilder’s CEO, said in a press release. “We’re likely to see gradual improvements in hiring across categories as companies respond to increased market demands.”

Part of operating lean means investing in new technologies that can make a business more competitive. For example, businesses with offices in multiple locations need to ensure that their communications are operating at their peak efficiency, especially if individual employees are constantly traveling.

To reduce travel expenses for these on-the-go workers, small businesses can look to a provider of top-quality Dallas or Chicago business phone systems and videoconferencing solutions. By transitioning from basic business phones to VoIP telephony systems, businesses could see cost reductions, which in turn could help them increase hiring.

To reduce travel expenses for these on-the-go workers, small businesses can look to a provider of top-quality Dallas or Chicago business phone systems and videoconferencing solutions.