Kforce Professional Staffing (Nasdaq: KFRC) has released its 2006 Salary & Employment Guides, featuring detailed salary data and career outlooks for the technology and the finance & accounting fields.



"These guides offer valuable insights into the trends shaping two of the most dynamic fields in today's economy, with information on the impact these may have on demand for technology and finance professionals," says David L. Dunkel, Kforce chairman and CEO. "Through these guides we hope to provide information that will help candidates and employers alike understand the marketplace and achieve a competitive edge."



Information in the guides is based on a comprehensive analysis of position openings and salaries by Kforce's staffing specialists throughout the country. Industry experts contributed additional insights on employment outlook, trends and skill requirements.



Technology outlook



In 2006, two major factors -- baby boomer retirements and a shortage of IT graduates -- are expected to create a shortfall in the number of skilled technology workers at a time when regulatory deadlines and long-delayed upgrades demand additional staff.



Although baby boomer retirements will shave the U.S. workforce by one- third, many of these experienced workers will continue working past retirement age. However, retention of these employees won't compensate for the shortage of IT graduates.



The National Center on Education and the Economy predicts that the most in-demand positions in 2006 will be hybrids of management and technology. Growing demand also is anticipated for database administrators, computer scientists, computer engineers and systems analysts. Other sources note that while routine tech jobs remain vulnerable to automation or outsourcing, strong demand continues for those who combine technical skills with industry-specific knowledge, people and business skills.



Other survey highlights include:



* U.S. businesses are expected to spend an estimated $5.8 billion in 2005 to upgrade technology and expand storage capacity to meet the demands of Sarbanes-Oxley regulations.



* According to AMR Research, the growth of the ERP software market, which lagged in 2005 after a 14-percent jump in 2004, is expected to resume in 2006 and beyond.



* Gartner Inc. predicts that IT spending will rise by 3 percent in 2006, much of which will be for storage systems and servers. Forrester Research predicts a 7-percent increase in IT spending for 2006.



* Sixty-six percent of hiring managers who participated in the Kforce survey reported that they plan to recruit for newly created IT positions.



"With experienced IT workers retiring and too few highly skilled workers to replace them, training and retention efforts will be critical," says Dunkel. "Businesses need to move immediately to search for and screen qualified applicants, and technology professionals with the right skill sets will be well positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities."



Finance and accounting outlook



The accounting profession is experiencing a boom period that is creating a greater demand for accountants than can be met in many markets. Although the U.S. Department of Labor projects that accounting jobs will grow at the same rate as the number of all jobs through 2012, practicing accountants in public CPA firms and businesses alike report they cannot find enough qualified accounting professionals.



"Recent accounting-related legislation is having a significant impact at a time when the pool of qualified prospects is declining due to the 150-hour rule instituted by most states," says Dunkel. "As a result, many hiring managers have more work than they can handle with current staffing levels and cannot find enough capable new hires."



Sarbanes-Oxley regulations continue to be the greatest driver of demand for finance and accounting professionals. Pay in this sector has increased 10 percent or more, according to CareerJournal.com, with experienced team leaders commanding 20 percent more than one year ago. And, in what the American Institute of CPAs calls a "cascading effect," smaller businesses and not-for-profits have also experienced significant increases in financial reporting activities.



Other survey highlights include:



* Hiring demand is greatest for accountants, auditors and financial managers. Lower-paid positions lag the growth in the overall economy, with much of this work being handled by automation.



* There is steady growth in the demand for accounting professionals with specialized skills in areas other than financial reporting. Accountants and auditors are broadening the scope of non-traditional services they offer to private companies and others for whom they do not provide audit services.



* The nontraditional specialty skills that both corporations and CPA firms seek most in their accountants include technology, business valuation, financial/investment consulting, business analysis and strategic planning.



* Tax work on the part of accounting firms appears to be declining, due to the increased popularity of tax preparation services and tax software programs.



* The AICPA reports an increase in accounting school enrollment after several years of steady declines. However, similar to the technology field, the supply of finance and accounting professionals is diminishing, attributable in part to retiring baby boomers.



* With an increasing workload and less available talent, some accounting firms have been outsourcing assignments overseas, a trend that bears watching but has not yet been identified as widespread.



"As the pool of highly qualified candidates shrinks, employers are striving to make themselves more attractive to candidates," says Dunkel. "Strategies include expanding benefits, addressing the work/life balance issue and increasing salaries to attract and retain top talent."


Kforce Inc. (Nasdaq: KFRC) is a professional staffing firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions for organizations in the skill areas of technology, finance & accounting, and health and life sciences. Backed by more than 1,600 staffing specialists, Kforce operates with 80 offices in 45 markets in North America. Additional information is available on the web site, http://www.kforce.com .