Atlanta Hiring Expected to Pick Up This Year

By Martha Dalton

Atlanta – Atlanta closed out 2010 with a record-high number of foreclosures and a double-digit jobless rate. But one analyst says hiring in some sectors will jump in 2011, which could give the economy a boost. WABE's Martha Dalton has more.

Keith Ordan oversees staffing at The Intersect Group, an Atlanta-based executive search firm. He expects IT jobs in the metro-area to grow substantially in 2011, partially driven by pent-up demand:
"I think a lot of companies put IT projects on hold they delayed implementing new softwares they delayed decisions about upgrading their websites."
Now, Ordan says, companies are taking those projects off the shelf and need more workers. He says finance and accounting jobs will also grow in 2011. For many of those jobs, Ordan says you may not need an accounting background just a good head on your shoulders:
"We see even entry-level college graduates that really are intelligent and articulate and they have a good mind for numbers. And they go into entry-level accounting roles, where companies are really willing to train them in a role."
Ordan says 2011 should be a good year for Atlanta companies, as more CFOs expect to hire and fewer expect to make layoffs.