Staffing Levels Predicted to Stabilize in 3Q 2009
Posted on 09. Jun, 2009 by jay in Career Advice, Job Hunting News
New data from Manpower suggests that employers remain hesitant about adding staff but do plan to keep their staffing levels relatively stable during the third quarter of 2009. Based on additional data, the U.S. Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the current quarter was revised to -2 percent and the same level is projected for the third quarter. Outside the U.S., deteriorating job prospects in the manufacturing sector across Europe have contributed to the first negative hiring forecast in three years from German employers.
“Compared to three months ago, a greater percentage of the world’s employers are willing us they will make no changes to their workforces, suggesting that the worst could be behind us. In the U.S., the cautious hiring pace will remain a challenge for job seekers as employers continue to adjust and align their workforces throughout the year to ride out this downturn and prepare for growth on the other side,” said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc. “Across Europe, we are seeing a continued weaker appetite for employees in the Manufacturing sector. In Fact, in Europe’s largest economy, the percentage of German manufacturers expecting layoffs rose nine percent compared to the previous quarter.”
What to expect in the Third Quarter in the U.S.
The majority (67 percent) of the more than 28,000 employers surveyed see no changes coming to their staffing levels during the third quarter. Fifteen percent of those surveyed by Manpower anticipate increasing their staffing levels between July and September, while 13 percent expect to decrease their payrolls. Five percent indicated they were undecided about their hiring plans for the upcoming quarter.
When it comes to industry hiring trends for 3Q 2009, employers in the Construction, Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Leisure & Hospitality industries all predict increases compared to the current quarter. Hiring levels will remain stable in the Durable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Information, Financial, Professional & Business Services and Other Services sectors during the third quarter. Employers in the Education & Health Services and Government industries hiring to decrease slightly between July and September compared to the previous quarter.
All regions have a weaker Outlook compared to the previous year. The West exhibits a weaker Outlook in third quarter compared to 2Q 2009 while employer optimism remains stable in the South, Northeast and Midwest.
For 46 years, the U.S. Manpower Employment Outlook Survey has measured employers’ intention to increase or decrease staffing levels during the next quarter. More than 28,000 employers from 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S. and one MSA in Puerto Rico participate in the only forward-looking survey of its kind.
“The data shows continued hesitancy among employers,” said Jonas Prising, president of the Americans for Manpower, Inc. “They are treading slowly and watching with guarded optimism, hoping a few quarters of stability will be the precursor to the recovery.”