Nearly one in five Phoenix chief financial officers expect their company to create new jobs in the next six months, according to a just-released employment forecast from the Robert Half staffing company.

Another 66 percent of local CFOs plan to hire only for open roles.

“In just the last six months, we’ve seen the Phoenix business landscape change dramatically with more companies, both large and small, moving to the area,” said Brett Good, senior district president for Robert Half in Phoenix. “This trend, in combination with decreasing unemployment rates, has created a competitive hiring environment.” 

Sixty-three percent of Phoenix CFOs surveyed said it’s somewhat or very challenging to find skilled candidates for professional-level positions today. This compares to 60 percent in the previous six months.

Many firms are facing increased difficulty staffing financial positions, the research found. Twenty-one percent of Phoenix executives said it’s much more challenging or somewhat more challenging to find skilled candidates for finance and accounting positions today compared to three years ago.

According to the March 16 employment forecast, Phoenix CFOs are optimistic about company growth. Ninety-three percent of executives reported being somewhat or very confident in their company’s prospects for growth in the next six months.

Robert Half, based in Menlo Park, Calif.,has more than 330 staffing locations worldwide.