American CSR jobs market grows strongly

The CSR jobs market in the US is showing signs of recovery after a decline between the third quarters of 2008 and 2009.

Research conducted by US-based Sustainability Recruiting shows that, despite a drop of 68 per cent over the previous year, the fourth quarter of 2009 recorded a climb of 33 per cent in CSR job vacancies.

The Californian recruitment firm, which says its data reveals general trends, has seen the upturn in the market after a period of levelling-off for much of 2009.

Since falling from an all-time high in 2008, jobs posted with Sustainability Recruiting, whose analysis includes nearly 1000 vacancies, fell dramatically as the recession took hold – to levels not seen since 2006.

Despite the upswing toward the end of 2009, however, the year still showed the lowest level of CSR job activity since 2004.

The data also shows a rise in adverts with vice president and director titles compared with less senior positions. Sustainability Recruiting says this is an indication of ‘the increased value being placed on CSR as a component of corporate strategy’. It claims this ‘elevates the importance of positions performing this role’.