Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Indicates U.S. Hiring Pace is Still Sluggish

Data Suggests Employment Downturn May Level Off During Q3 2009 


MILWAUKEE, June 9  /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. employers plan to keep their staffing levels relatively stable during Quarter 3 2009, according to the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc. Based on additional data, the Outlook for Quarter 2 2009 was revised to -2 percent, the same as Quarter 3 2009, to account for seasonal variations.

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"When we account for ongoing calibration of the data, employer attitudes about hiring remain essentially unchanged compared to the previous quarter," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc. "While the numbers may not be as optimistic as we would like, it is positive to see no further deterioration."

More than 28,000 employers were surveyed about their hiring plans for Quarter 3 2009. Fifteen percent anticipate an increase in their staff levels, while 13 percent expect a decrease in their payrolls. Sixty-seven percent of employers surveyed expect no change in their July - September hiring plans, and 5 percent of employers indicated they were undecided about their hiring intentions.

"The data shows continued hesitancy among employers," said Jonas Prising, president of the Americas 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."

The national survey data shows employers in seven of the 13 sectors surveyed expect hiring to remain relatively stable in Q3 2009 as compared to Q2 2009. Employers in Construction and Wholesale & Retail Trade anticipate moderate increases, while Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing and Leisure & Hospitality employers expect a slight increase in hiring activity compared to the second quarter.

Employers in two sectors surveyed, Education & Health Services and Government, anticipate a slight decrease in hiring compared to three months ago. Employers in Durable Goods Manufacturing; Transportation & Utilities; Information; Financial Activities; Professional & Business Services; and Other Services sector employers will keep hiring levels relatively stable for the third quarter.

The West has a weaker Outlook compared to Q2 2009, while all regions have a weaker Outlook compared to one year ago at this time. Employer optimism about hiring is relatively stable in the South, Northeast and Midwest.

New survey methodology

Effective with the Quarter 1 2009 results released in December, an adjustment was made in the methodology of the 46-year-old survey to make it more representative of the U.S. economy. The research is drawn from employers located in 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S. and one MSA in Puerto Rico. The 13 industries in the survey follow the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), with Durable and Nondurable Goods Manufacturing reported separately. The sample size was increased to more than 28,000 employers from a previously collected 14,000.

Note to Readers

The complete results and visuals from the U.S. National Manpower Employment Outlook Survey are available for viewing and downloading at http://www.us.manpower.com/meos. There you will also find the survey results for the 201 MSAs.

About the Survey

Employment services company Manpower Inc. releases the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the only forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in size, scope, longevity and area of focus.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey's United States results are based on interviews with more than 28,000 employers located within 200 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), as defined by the federal government, and one MSA in Puerto Rico. The mix of U.S. industries within the survey follows the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Supersectors and is structured to be representative of the U.S. economy. The national survey carries a margin of error of +/- .49%. Visit http://www.us.manpower.com/meos.

(C) Manpower Inc. 2009 All rights reserved. 

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DATASOURCE: Manpower Inc.



CONTACT:  Juan Carlos Cruz of Manpower Inc., [phone],





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