Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Canadian Employers Expect a
Hopeful Hiring Climate for First Quarter of 2010

TORONTO , Dec. 8 /CNW/ - Canadian employers expect a hopeful hiring climate for the first 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 removed from the survey data, the Net Employment Outlook of 13 per cent indicates employers anticipate a favourable hiring climate in the upcoming quarter. This forecast improves six percentage points from the previous quarter when employers reported a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of seven per cent. However, the Outlook is down five percentage points from the same time last year.

The survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 15 per cent plan to increase their payrolls in the first quarter of 2010, while 13 per cent anticipate cutbacks and 70 per cent of employers expect to maintain their current staffing levels. Two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.

"This quarter's Net Employment Outlook indicates that the modest hiring climate reported in the previous quarter will improve in the first quarter of 2010," says Lori Rogers , VP Operations, Staffing Services for Manpower Canada . "Employers are telling us that they plan to hire but at a more conservative pace than during the same time last year."

Of the 10 surveyed industry sectors, employers in the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate and the Wholesale and Retail Trade sectors are the most hopeful about adding to their payrolls in the first quarter of 2010 both with projected Net Employment Outlooks of 16 per cent once seasonal variations are removed from the data. Employers in the Transportation and Public Utilities sector, as well as in the Public Administration sector also anticipate a steady hiring pace for the upcoming quarter with seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlooks of 12 per cent.

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate

In the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate industry sector, employers report a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 16 per cent. This is a six percentage point increase from the previous quarter and an eight percentage point increase from the same time last year, indicating a positive hiring climate for the upcoming quarter.

Wholesale and Retail Trade

In the Wholesale and Retail Trade industry sector employers expect upbeat hiring activity in the first quarter of 2010 reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 16 per cent. This is an increase from the previous quarter when employers predicted a hiring climate of four per cent. However, it is a 14 percentage point decrease from the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Transportation and Public Utilities

Reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent, employers in the Transportation and Public Utilities industry sector expect a respectable hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This Outlook is a six percentage point improvement from the previous quarter, but is a two percentage point decline from the same time last year.

Public Administration

In the Public Administration industry sector employers anticipate a positive hiring climate for the first quarter of 2010 with a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent. This quarter's forecast is an increase from the previous quarter when employers reported an Outlook of nine per cent. However, it is a four percentage point decrease from the forecast reported at the same time last year.

Services

Employers in the Services industry sector report a Net Employment Outlook of 10 per cent once seasonally variations are removed from the data, indicating a hopeful hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This is a two percentage point improvement from the previous quarter. However, it is a four percentage point decline from the same time last year.

Mining

With a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent, employers in the Mining sector project a moderate hiring climate for the first quarter of 2010. This is a slight decline from the previous quarter when employers reported a Net Employment Outlook of nine per cent. It is also a three percentage point decrease from the first quarter of 2009.

Manufacturing Non-Durable Goods

Employers in the Manufacturing Non-Durables industry sector expect a fair hiring climate reporting a Net Employment Outlook of five per cent. This is a slight decline from the previous quarter when employers reported an Outlook of six per cent. It is also a decrease from the same time last year when the seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook was 11 per cent.

Construction

In the Construction industry sector employers project a mild hiring climate for the first quarter of 2010 reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of five per cent. This is a four percentage point decrease from the Outlook reported in the previous quarter. It is also a decrease from the same time last year when employers reported an Outlook of 17 per cent.

Education

With a Net Employment Outlook of four per cent, employers in the Education industry sector expect a quiet hiring climate for the first quarter of 2010. This quarter's Outlook is an increase from the previous quarter when employers reported an Outlook of one per cent. However, it is nine percentage points weaker when compared to the same time last year.

Manufacturing Durable Goods

In the Manufacturing Durable Goods sector, employers anticipate a cautiously optimistic hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of four per cent. The Outlook is an improvement from the flat environment reported in the previous quarter, but is weaker than the same time last year when employers reported an Outlook of nine per cent.

Regional Hiring Intentions Mixed

"Regionally, employers in Atlantic and Western Canada anticipate the most encouraging hiring climates," adds Rogers. "The seasonally adjusted survey data indicates employers in Atlantic Canada have positive hiring intentions for the coming quarter reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 13 per cent. The upbeat forecast for this region is being strengthened by favourable hiring intentions in the Construction, Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, Public Administration and Transportation and Public Utilities industry sectors." Meanwhile employers in Western Canada report a mild hiring climate with a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of three per cent. With Net Employment Outlooks of two and one per cent respectively, employers in Quebec and Ontario expect quiet hiring climates for the upcoming quarter.

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 45 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 35 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 , 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. 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]