WORKPLACE ISSUES

Who’s Hiring, or Not: So who’s hiring these days?

For top executives, it’s banks and other financial service companies and the health-care industry.

All but dead--still--is real estate. The weak housing market means the business is in bad shape in Southern California and Orange County, said Elliot Gordon, managing vice president of headhunters Korn/Ferry International’s Newport Beach office.

The hotel and leisure businesses aren’t looking so hot either, Gordon said.

As for what types of executives companies are seeking these days, it’s financial types, he said. “I’ve seen more activity in chief financial officers, treasurers and controllers in the last six months than I have in the previous two or three years.”

The reason: “It’s part of a trend of companies being more cost-conscious,” he said. “If you can take a dollar from your costs, it goes directly to profits.”