Executive search professionals are optimistic for the second half of the year, according to the Association of Executive Search Consultants’ (AESC) latest Outlook Report.

Results revealed a 66% positive prediction for the executive search industry, with the greatest optimism coming from consultants in Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Executive search consultants predict that China, Brazil and India will see the greatest shortage of executive talent in the second half of 2011, while the energy/natural resources sector is set for the biggest growth in senior hiring.

AESC president, Peter Felix, says: “I am delighted to see that confidence within the executive search industry remains at a high level on a worldwide basis, in spite of continuing economic uncertainty in many countries.

“It is no surprise to see the emerging markets of Brazil, India and China showing the greatest talent shortage, but it is most encouraging to see a sustained resurgence of demand in the US and other Asia Pacific markets. Europe remains the softest of regions but nevertheless has significant strengths in Germany and the UK.”

The general management/CEO/COO function is expected to see the greatest shortage of talent worldwide in the second half of the year, followed by business development and then engineering.

To keep up with the demand, over half the search firms surveyed plan to hire more consultants and researchers from July to December 2011.

The AESC Member Mid-Year Outlook Survey of June 2011 totalled 196 responses from AESC executive search consultants worldwide, including 51% from EMEA, 30% from the Americas and 13% from Asia Pacific.