Hiring intentions in the US are holding steady as the first quarter approaches, according to ManpowerGroup’s (NYSE: MAN) Employment Outlook Survey released Dec. 10.

US employers had a net employment outlook of 34% in the first-quarter report, unchanged from the fourth-quarter finding, though the net employment outlook was down from 35% going into the first quarter of 2024.

“While it’s encouraging to see hiring plans holding steady, the reality is more nuanced when you dig into the data,” Becky Frankiewicz, president, North America region and chief commercial officer at ManpowerGroup, said in a press release.

“We’re seeing clear signals that employers will continue to take a more thoughtful approach to hiring in [the first quarter] by holding onto the talent they have and prioritizing in-demand skills in key areas like IT, financial services and manufacturing,” Frankiewicz continued.

ManpowerGroup is also seeing companies take longer to hire, she said. In addition, seasonal hiring is changing with more hiring earlier in the season.

“This tells us this isn’t your typical cycle,” Frankiewicz said. “We’re watching the labor market normalize at different speeds across industries. It’s a sign that organizations are adapting and becoming more precise in their workforce planning.”

Among the key findings in the report are that the strongest hiring plans are reported in the South with a net employment outlook of 35%. It was followed by the Midwest and West at 34% each and the Northeast at 33%.

Industries with the strongest net employment outlooks were IT, 53%; financial and real estate, 40%; and industrials and materials, 36%.

Workforce gender equality continues to improve with 33% of companies reporting they have fully achieved gender equality, according to the report. That’s up from 27% a year ago.

The survey for the report took place from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31 and included more than 6,000 employers in the US.