Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Canadian Employers Expect a Steady
Hiring Climate for Fourth Quarter of 2010

Employers in the Manufacturing-Durables industry sector report their strongest forecast in a decade

TORONTO, Sept. 7 /CNW/ - Canadian employers expect a steady hiring climate for the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world. Meanwhile, employers in the Manufacturing-Durables industry sector are anticipating a particularly active hiring pace in the next three months and reporting the sector's strongest Outlook in the last 10 years.

With seasonal variations taken into account, the Outlook of 15 per cent is a four percentage point increase from the previous quarter, when employers reported a Net Employment Outlook of 11 per cent. The Outlook has increased by 10 percentage points from the same time last year, when employers reported an Outlook of five per cent.

The survey of nearly 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 21 per cent plan to increase their payrolls in the fourth quarter of 2010, while seven per cent anticipate cutbacks. Of those surveyed, 70 per cent of employers expect to maintain their current staffing levels and two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.

"This quarter's Net Employment Outlook indicates that the hiring climate will remain steady for the fourth quarter of 2010," says Byrne Luft, VP of Staffing Operations for Manpower Canada. "Employers are telling us that they plan to continue to increase their payrolls at a similar pace for the rest of the year. And there are other reasons for optimism, as well. The national Outlook is the strongest in almost two years, while the Outlook reported by employers in the Manufacturing-Durables industry sector is the most optimistic forecast in the last decade."

Of the 10 surveyed industry sectors, employers in the Mining and Manufacturing-Durable Goods sectors report the most positive results for the fourth quarter of 2010, with projected Net Employment Outlooks of 25 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively. This is followed by the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate sector, where industry employers anticipate an upbeat climate, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 19 per cent.

Mining

Employers anticipate an active fourth quarter, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 25 per cent once seasonal variations are removed. This is a five percentage point increase from the previous quarter. It is also a 16 percentage point improvement from the seasonally adjusted Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Manufacturing-Durable Goods

In the Manufacturing-Durable Goods sector, employers also anticipate an active hiring climate for the upcoming quarter with a Net Employment Outlook of 21 per cent. This forecast is a nine percentage point increase from the hopeful Outlook reported during the previous quarter. It is also a significant improvement from the Outlook of minus one per cent which was reported during the same time last year.

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

Employers forecast an upbeat hiring climate, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 19 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2010. This is an eight percentage point increase from the previous quarter. It is also a 10 percentage point improvement from the same time last year.

Manufacturing-Non-Durable Goods

Reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 14 per cent, employers expect a respectable hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This forecast is a six percentage point increase from the Outlook projected during the previous quarter. It is also an eight percentage point improvement from the same time last year.

Transportation & Public Utilities

Employers report a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 14 per cent, improving ten percentage points from both the previous quarter and from the same time last year.

Education

Employers report a Net Employment Outlook of 13 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2010. This is a four percentage point increase from the previous quarter, and is also an 11 percentage point improvement from the Outlook reported during the same time last year indicating a hopeful hiring climate for the upcoming quarter.

Construction

Employers expect a respectable hiring environment for the fourth quarter of 2010, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 13 per cent. This is a drop from the previous quarter, when employers reported an Outlook of 16 per cent. However, it is a slight increase from the same time last year when industry employers reported an Outlook of 10 per cent, suggesting a favourable hiring climate for the final quarter of 2010.

Public Administration

In the Public Administration industry sector, employers anticipate a hopeful hiring climate for the fourth quarter of 2010, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent. This quarter's forecast is an increase from both the previous quarter and the same time last year when industry employers reported Net Employment Outlooks of six and eight per cent respectively, indicating an upbeat hiring climate for the upcoming quarter.

Services

With a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent, employers in the Services industry sector expect a steady hiring climate for the fourth quarter of 2010. This quarter's Outlook improves from the previous quarter, when industry employers reported an Outlook of 10 per cent. It is also an improvement from the same time last year, when employers reported a Net Employment Outlook of six per cent.

Wholesale & Retail Trade

Employers report a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent, indicating an upbeat hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This quarter's Outlook is unchanged from the previous quarter, but has improved since the same time last year when employers reported an Outlook of seven per cent.

Regional Hiring Intentions Favourable

"Regionally, employers in Atlantic and Western Canada anticipate the most favourable hiring climates," adds Luft. "The survey data indicates employers in Atlantic Canada have positive hiring intentions for the coming quarter, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent. The upbeat forecast for this region is due in part to the bright hiring forecast reported by employers in the Manufacturing-Durable Goods industry sector as many of these firms are located in this region. Similarly bolstered by solid hiring projections in the Mining industry sector, employers in Western Canada anticipate a steady hiring environment for the upcoming quarter, also reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent." Meanwhile, employers in Ontario expect a respectable hiring climate with an Outlook of 14 per cent, and Quebec area employers anticipate a moderate fourth quarter reporting a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent.

For a video overview of the survey visit: http://manpower.ca/ca/en/research/meos/default.jsp

About the Survey

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the most extensive forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus. The Survey has been running for more than 47 years and is one of the most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on interviews with more than 61,000 public and private employers worldwide and is considered a highly respected economic indicator.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is currently available for 36 countries and territories: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The program began in the United States and Canada in 1962, and the United Kingdom was added in 1966. Mexico and Ireland launched the survey in 2002, and 13 additional countries were added to the program in 2003. New Zealand joined the program in 2004, China, India, Switzerland and Taiwan were added in 2005, and Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica and South Africa joined in 2006. Colombia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Guatemala, Poland and Romania joined in 2008; Brazil and Hungary joined in 2009; and Panama joined in 2010. For more information, visit the Manpower Inc. Web site at www.manpower.com and enter the Research Center.

About Manpower Canada

With over 50 offices strategically located across the country, Manpower Canada's staffing services include administrative, industrial, skilled trades and contact centre personnel as well as the assignment of contract professionals in information technology, scientific, finance, engineering, telecommunications and other professional areas under the Manpower Professional brand. More information can be found on Manpower Canada's Web sites: manpower.ca and manpowerprofessional.ca.

For further information: John Settino, The iPR Group, 1.416.850.2524, [email protected]