The executive search sector is feeling positive about the second half of the year.

Key findings from the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) Member Mid-Year Outlook Survey show that 64% of consultants held a neutral to positive outlook for the senior executive recruitment industry for the second half of 2009.

Even more promising was the 73% neutral to positive outlook for individual search practices for the same period. Half the respondents reported having seen an improved demand for retained executive search during April and May against the first three months of this year.

AESC president, Peter Felix, says: “Following an economic crisis of this severity, a neutral to positive outlook from AESC firms is most encouraging.

“Our members have been badly affected by the hiatus in hiring at the senior level but are ready to help those clients now re-entering the market to both upgrade their senior staff and to invest for the future.”

Sectors seeing significant improvements were consumer goods and services and life sciences/healthcare, followed by energy/natural resources.