The outlook for information technology hiring is positive for the second quarter, the Canadian arm of staffing company Robert Half International said Wednesday.

The demand for full-time accounting and finance professionals is also expected to increase, although more modestly, the Toronto-based company said.

A telephone survey of more than 270 chief information officers (CIOs) found that 12 per cent expected to hire information technology (IT) workers in the second quarter, while only four per cent planned cuts.

"This represents a net eight per cent increase," Robert Half said in a news release.

A similar calculation based on interviews with chief financial officers showed a net five per cent increase in hiring plans.

"Businesses are turning to accounting and finance staff to implement cost-saving strategies and manage critical priorities," said Kathryn Bolt, district president of the company's Canadian operations.

For IT workers, higher workloads were driving demand. The CIOs cited desktop support and network administration as areas of growth.