US executive search firms are showing increasing signs of confidence, according to US-based ExecuNet’s April Recruiter Confidence Index.

Recruiters’ short-term confidence increased slightly in April, as 18% report being confident or very confident that the executive employment market will improve during the next three months — up from 15% in March.

Mark Anderson, president of ExecuNet, says: “While many recruiters are still wary about the economy, a growing number are beginning to see signs indicating that the worst of the recession may very well be over.”

“Executive search firms, particularly those that specialise in high growth industries such as healthcare, biotech, energy, environmental services and clean technologies have seen a clear improvement in assignment growth in recent weeks.”

The Recruiter Confidence Index is based on a monthly survey of executive search firms conducted by ExecuNet, a private network for business leaders. Designed to forecast job growth at the executive level, a reading below 50% indicates recruiters expect the number of search assignments in the next six months will decrease (see graph).