Ninety-one per cent of executive search consultants hold a neutral to positive outlook for the executive search business in 2010, revealing renewed confidence as the senior recruitment industry gains momentum following the downturn.

According to the 2010 Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) Member Outlook Survey of December 2009, 77% of those surveyed expect revenues to increase in 2010 and over half plans to hire more consultants this year.

Healthcare/life sciences and energy/natural resources industries are predicted to see the most growth this year. And China was considered to have the greatest demand for talent regionally, followed by India in second place.

AESC president Peter Felix said: “These outlook results for 2010 indicate very strongly that the executive search business, and thus the senior executive hiring market, has turned a corner. It is indicative of a new spring in the step of top management of organisations and a realisation that with a new environment decisions about the quality of executive teams are of paramount importance.”

For more on the AESC report, see Market Indicators, Recruiter, 3 February.