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Manpower survey: Hiring expectations decline

September 08, 2009
Staffing Industry Analysts North American Daily News

U.S. employers plan to cut back on hiring in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter and the same period a year ago, according to the employment outlook survey released today by Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN).

The survey questioned more than 72,000 employers around the world, including more than 28,000 in the U.S.

It found that 12% of U.S. employers plan to increase their staff in the fourth quarter, 14% plan to decrease, 69% plan no change and 5% don't know for a net employment outlook of negative 2%.

Seasonally adjusted, the fourth-quarter U.S. net employment outlook was negative 3%. That compares with negative 2% in the third quarter of 2009 and 9% in the fourth quarter of 2008.

"The hiring intentions of U.S. companies continue to be sluggish," Manpower Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres said. "While there are areas within the U.S. which are showing an uptick, we have yet to see the robust hiring intentions that would indicate a full labor market recovery."

Canadian employers also plan slower hiring than a year ago.

Among the more than 1,900 Canadian employers surveyed by Manpower, 15% planned to increase staff in the fourth quarter, 11% planned cuts, 73% anticipated no change and 1% said they didn't know for a net employment outlook of 4% -- or 5% when seasonally adjusted. This compares with a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of 14% for the fourth quarter of 2008.