June 13, 1999
IT INDUSTRY HIRING REMAINS HIGH THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF 1999

(Cleveland, Ohio) - Executive, professional and sales workers in the IT industry continue to enjoy a competitive job market as companies steadily increase new hire projections for the first six months of 1999, according to the latest hiring survey conducted by Management Recruiters International, Inc. (MRI), a subsidiary of CDI Corp. (NYSE: CDI).

Of the executives surveyed who have responsibility for hiring in the information technology industry, 71.6% plan to increase staffs over the next six months, up by 0.5 of a point from the second half of 1998. Another 21.4% plan to maintain their current staff sizes, down by 1.3 points, and 7.0% plan decreases, up by only .8 of a point.

By comparison, of the 5,606 executives polled for all industries, the national average for projected new hires is 53.2%, while 38.4% plan to maintain, and 8.4% plan to reduce staff sizes. Overall, new hire projections during the first half of 1999 remain among the highest ever recorded in the eighteen-year history of the survey.