Less Experienced Professionals in Demand, According to Beyond.com

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beyond.com, Inc., the world’s largest network of niche career communities, today released its First Quarter 2009 Career Trends Analysis and Industry Outlook Reports, which provide an in-depth look at the latest job market trends.

“In times of economic uncertainty, employers are extremely mindful of expenses, especially as it relates to their recruitment program, to ensure that their business is able to continue thriving”

In a thriving economy, there is a higher demand for management-level candidates, but in a down economy many employers shift their recruiting efforts to attract and retain less experienced professionals that will be highly productive and cost-effective for their business. While many employers in certain industries, such as customer service and retail, typically tend to attract and foster a higher concentration of lower-level professionals, current data shows that many top industries are following suit to tap into this segment of the talent pool.

According to Beyond.com, the top three industries for jobs in Q1 2009 have reported an increase in demand for candidates with less than five years of experience; and with more experienced professionals out of work, many seasoned professionals will be forced to more directly compete with this younger workforce. The following highlights the top three industries in Q1 2009:

• Healthcare & Medical. There was a 15.2 percent increase in the number of Healthcare professionals searching for a job. While the majority of job seekers had 1-3 years of experience, most healthcare jobs required less than one year of experience.
• Information Technology. There was a 54.5 percent increase in the number of IT professionals searching for a job. The majority of job seekers had 5-10 years of experience, but candidates with 3-5 years of experience were in highest demand.
• Sales & Sales Management. There was a 23.8 percent increase in the number of Sales professionals searching for a job. The majority of job seekers had more than 21 years of experience, while candidates with less than one year of experience were most in demand, representing 65.6 percent of all Sales jobs posted.

“In times of economic uncertainty, employers are extremely mindful of expenses, especially as it relates to their recruitment program, to ensure that their business is able to continue thriving,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com, Inc. “As a result, many companies are focused on hiring front-line workers who can make the most impact on their business with the least amount of financial risk, further widening the employment gap that exists between the type candidates in-demand compared to the type of candidates currently searching for a job.”

To view the complete Career Trend Analysis Report and Industry Outlook Reports, visit: http://www.beyond.com/Media/QuarterlyReports.asp.

About Beyond.com, Inc.

Beyond.com is the world’s largest network of niche career communities, providing access to thousands of top-tier industry and local web sites. Our career search services and networking tools enable job seekers and employers to create targeted connections across thousands of online communities. We deliver a one-of-a-kind recruitment solution that provides the targeted exposure of a specialized job board, reinforced by the breadth and volume of a larger career network. Beyond.com was named to Inc. Magazine’s prestigious ‘Inc. 500’ list and is a Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE) partner company. www.Beyond.com.