Top performers hard to find and keep, survey shows

Retention concerns have risen significantly in the last year, with 73 percent of hiring managers in the U.S. worried about losing their top performers to other job opportunities

That number is up from 46 percent of hiring managers surveyed in 2007.

Robert Half International Inc. surveyed 4,000 finance and human resources managers in 20 countries, with 56 percent admitting it's been hard to find skilled job candidates.

"The results of this year's report reflect the challenges hiring managers around the world continue to face in locating and retaining highly skilled accounting and finance professionals," said Greg Scileppi, director of international operations for Robert Half International. "The perennial need for strong financial functions is fueling competition for the best candidates and prompting companies to develop more effective strategies to prevent the loss of their most valued employees."

Each job candidate is interviewed an average of three times before filling a staff-level position, compared with only two interviews last year. Employers also reported using project professionals more often, and at more senior levels, than during the last three years.

Hiring managers surveyed from the U.S. said industry knowledge and experience was the most important attribute -- a trend reported in 16 of 20 countries surveyed. Last year, regulatory compliance expertise was the leading response.

"The global demand for executives with deep industry expertise represents a renewed emphasis on fundamental competitive performance," said Scileppi. "As regulatory compliance efforts have become better established, firms are returning their focus to maintaining an edge within their industries and seeking leaders who can help them do so."