Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Canadian Employers Expect a Fair
Hiring Climate for Second Quarter of 2010

TORONTO, March 9 /CNW/ - Canadian employers expect a fair hiring climate for the second quarter of 2010, according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world.

With seasonal variations taken into account, the Net Employment Outlook of seven per cent indicates that employers anticipate a modest hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This forecast is a three percentage point decrease from the previous quarter when employers reported a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 10 per cent. However, the Outlook has increased by six percentage points from the same time last year.

The survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 17 per cent plan to increase their payrolls in the second quarter of 2010, while six per cent anticipate cutbacks. Of those surveyed 75 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 hopeful hiring climate reported in the previous quarter will continue to improve in the second quarter of 2010," says Byrne Luft, VP, Marketing for Manpower Canada. "Employers who intend to hire are telling us that they plan to hire at a moderately stronger pace than during the same time last year and that's good news. But most - three in four - are telling us they will make no changes to their payrolls in the quarter ahead indicating added stability in the labour market."

Of the 10 surveyed industry sectors, employers in the Education and Mining industry sectors report the most favourable results for the second quarter of 2010 with projected Net Employment Outlooks of 15 per cent, once seasonal variations are removed from the data. This is followed by the Construction sector, where employers anticipate a respectable hiring climate, reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 10 per cent.

Education

In the Education industry sector employers report a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 15 per cent for the second quarter of 2010. This is a 10 percentage point increase from the previous quarter and an 11 percentage point increase from the same time last year, indicating an upbeat hiring climate in the forthcoming quarter.

Mining

In the Mining industry sector employers anticipate a respectable second quarter reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 15 per cent once seasonal variations are removed. This is a six percentage point increase from the previous quarter when employers reported an Outlook of nine per cent. It is also a considerable improvement from the same time last year when industry employers reported an Outlook of three per cent.

Construction

Employers in the Construction industry sector expect a hopeful hiring environment for the second quarter of 2010 reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 10 per cent. This is an increase from the previous quarter when employers predicted a hiring climate of six per cent. It is also a three percentage point increase from the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Transportation and Public Utilities

Reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent, employers in the Transportation and Public Utilities industry sector expect a moderate hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This Outlook is a four percentage point drop from the previous quarter, but is a five percentage point increase from the same time last year.

Public Administration

In the Public Administration industry sector employers also anticipate a moderate hiring climate for the second quarter of 2010 reporting a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent. This quarter's forecast is a decrease from the previous quarter when employers reported an Outlook of 11 per cent. The forecast is also a decline from the same time last year when employers reported an Outlook of 10 per cent.

Wholesale and Retail Trade

Employers in the Wholesale and Retail Trade industry sector report a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent once seasonal variations are removed from the data, indicating a fair hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This is a four percentage point decline from the previous quarter, but a six percentage point increase from the same time last year.

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

In the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate industry sector employers forecast a modest hiring climate, reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent for the second quarter of 2010. This is a drop from the 16 per cent forecast reported by industry employers in the previous quarter. However, it is an improvement from the flat hiring pace reported by employers during the same time last year.

Manufacturing Non-Durable Goods

Reporting a Net Employment Outlook of five per cent, employers in the Manufacturing Non-Durable Goods industry sector expect a fair hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This forecast is on par with the forecast projected during the previous quarter and is an improvement from the Outlook of minus four per cent which was reported during the same time last year.

Services

With a Net Employment Outlook of four per cent, employers in the Services industry sector expect a mild hiring climate for the second quarter of 2010. This quarter's Outlook is a decrease from the Outlook reported for the previous quarter, as well as the Outlook from the same time last year when employers reported a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent.

Manufacturing Durable Goods

In the Manufacturing Durable Goods sector, employers anticipate a cautiously optimistic hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of three per cent. This forecast is on par with the outlook reported during the previous quarter however is a significant improvement from the cloudy outlook of minus nine which was reported during the same time last year.

Regional Hiring Intentions Steady

"Regionally, employers in Atlantic Canada anticipate the most positive hiring climate," adds Luft. "The seasonally adjusted survey data indicates employers in Atlantic Canada have upbeat hiring intentions for the coming quarter reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 14 per cent. The favourable forecast for this region is being strengthened by robust hiring intentions in the mining industry sector." Meanwhile employers in Western Canada and Quebec expect hopeful hiring climates both with a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of nine per cent. With a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent, employers in Ontario expect a modest hiring climate for the upcoming quarter.

For a video overview of the survey visit: http://www.ca.manpower.com/cacom/contentSingle.jsp?articleid=308

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 72,000 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, [phone], [email protected]