The 2013 Global War for Executive Talent Most Fierce in the United States

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Releasing the results of their 2013 Global Executive Outlook Survey, BlueSteps, the career management service of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), announced today that the majority of global executives share a neutral to positive attitude about the executive job market for 2013. Thirty-seven percent of global executives harbor a neutral perception (neither positive nor negative) about executive opportunities in 2013, while 36% report a positive outlook for 2013.

The study, compiled from a December survey of more than 600 executives worldwide, reveals that executives feel more positive about the general business climate for 2013, with 42% of executives harboring a positive impression for business this year—up seven percentage points over last year’s data.

Primary concerns for business in 2013 cited by global executives includes ongoing global economic volatility, with many executives pointing to the financial crisis in Europe, political gridlock and a perceived lack of fiscal responsibility in Washington, DC, and a slowdown in Asia Pacific.

Peter Felix, AESC President commented:

“Economic uncertainty inevitably translates into mixed emotions on the part of senior executives. Our current survey shows clear indications of these sentiments and yet also an increasingly positive view about economic prospects, especially in the United States. Thus at the cutting edge where executive talent is a key resource for all organizations, we are beginning to see a thaw in attitude towards making a career move and a feeling that greater opportunity may exist in the year ahead.”

Regarding the global war for talent, executives worldwide predict the greatest executive talent shortages this year to occur in the United States, followed by China and Brazil.

A full copy of the 2013 BlueSteps Global Executive Outlook Report is available to BlueSteps members, AESC members and the media.

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BlueSteps is the executive career management service of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), putting senior executives on the radar screen of over 8,000 executive search professionals in more than 75 countries. Be visible, and be considered for the 70,000+ executive opportunities handled by AESC member search firms every year. Find out more at www.bluesteps.com.