The outlook for the executive employment market in the US is improving, according to the latest ExecuNet Recruiter Confidence Index (RCI).

The US-based RCI climbed higher for the third consecutive month in May, reaching the 50% mark for the first time since August last year.

Of those recruiters surveyed, 57% were confident or very confident the executive employment market would improve over the next six months, up from 41% in April, 38% in March and 28% in February.

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 RCI 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).