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View All NewsManpower poll - Firms cautious with hiring
U.S. companies plan to be cautious when it comes to hiring in the first quarter, according to the Employment Outlook Survey by Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN).
For the first quarter, 16% of companies said they plan to add staff while 13% plan to cut for a net employment outlook of 3% (not seasonally adjusted). Sixty-seven percent planned no change, while 5% didn't know. The percentage total exceeds 100% because of rounding.
Those numbers are down from plans for the first quarter of 2007, when there was a net employment outlook of 10%.
"A significant percentage 67% of employers plan to hold staff levels steady for the first quarter of 2009," said Manpower Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Joerres. "This may suggest that a majority of employers are carefully monitoring the uncertain economic environment prior to making any additional employment decisions."
Mining has the brightest outlook of all industries with a net employment outlook of 12%. It was followed by the professional and business services category with a net employment outlook of 11%.
The weakest industry was construction with a net employment outlook of -12%.
In Canada, the net employment outlook for the first quarter of 2009 is 7% (not seasonally adjusted). That compares with a net employment outlook of 6% for the first quarter of 2008.
Employers in the United Kingdom reported a first-quarter net employment outlook of -5% (not seasonally adjusted). That compares with 7% for the year-ago quarter.
The report surveyed 71,000 employers in 33 countries, including 31,800 employers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.