U.S. Employers Expect Modest Hiring in 2Q

U.S. employers have modest hiring plans for the second quarter this year, according to the results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc.

"U.S. hiring activity is still in neutral, but revving toward first gear," said Jonas Prising, Manpower president of the Americas. "It's moving in the right direction, but it will take some time, with no major speed bumps, before it can accelerate."

This quarter's research concludes:

·Year-Over-Year Increase : With a seasonally adjusted Outlook of +5%, employers indicate a moderate increase in hiring expectations compared to one year ago, when the seasonally adjusted Outlook was -2%.

·Stability Continues: 73% of employers, a record-tying high, expect to keep staff levels stable, which is good news for the currently employed.

·Industries Recovering: Twelve of 13 industry sectors surveyed report positive Net Employment Outlooks, meaning employers in most industry sectors plan to add staff during the second quarter.

·Local Picture Improving: Among 201 surveyed Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 94% indicate a positive or neutral Net Employment Outlook, indicating cautious optimism is becoming more widespread geographically.

"We continue to see encouraging signs in hiring activity in the U.S.," Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres said. "Key industries such as manufacturing and construction are seeing notable improvements on a year-over-year basis."

Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed across the nation, 16% anticipate an increase in staff levels during the second quarter of, while 8% expect a decrease in payrolls, resulting in a Net Employment Outlook of +8%. When seasonally adjusted, the Net Employment Outlook becomes +5%.

Seventy-three percent of employers expect no change in their hiring plans, with the final 3% of employers indicating they are undecided about their hiring intentions.

A positive outlook is reported in all four of the U.S. regions surveyed. The Northeast has the strongest outlook (+8%), followed by the South and West (+6%). The outlook in the Midwest (+4%) is the weakest of the regions surveyed.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey's United States results are based on interviews with more than 18,000 employers located within 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), as defined by the federal government, and one MSA in Puerto Rico.