U.S. Employment Outlook Returns to Post-Recession Strength for Q4 2016
U.S. employers indicate a slight increase in hiring plans for the final three months of 2016, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, released today by ManpowerGroup. Taking into account seasonal variations, the Net Employment Outlook for Quarter 4 2016 is +18%, which matches the strongest post-recession Outlook reported in Quarter 4 2015. Hiring plans nationwide improve by three percentage points compared to the previous quarter, with all 13 industry sectors planning to increase their payrolls.
Of the more than 11,000 U.S. employers surveyed, 22% anticipate increasing staff levels in Quarter 4 2016. This is a 1% percent decrease from Quarter 3 2016, and a 1% percent increase from Quarter 4 2015. Only 6% of employers expect workforce reductions and 69% expect no change in hiring plans. The final 3% of employers are undecided about their hiring intentions, resulting in a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +18%.
“Employers are optimistic, though hesitant, with their hiring intentions and we’re pleased to see levels we were seeing before the recession,” said Kip Wright, Senior Vice President of Manpower North America. “While employers are looking to grow their workforces, many are challenged to find candidates with the right skills. As the hiring outlook continues to improve, attracting and retaining skilled talent will become even more difficult. That’s why we’re hearing more about companies like AT&T and Marriott that are adopting strategies to develop their employees’ skill sets and competing to attract those with the most in-demand skills – especially in industries like IT and engineering.”
To read the full Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the U.S., go to: http://manpowergroup.us/MEOS/ or to access the downloadable version of the complete report, click here.
The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on December 13, 2016 to report hiring expectations for Quarter 1 2017. Sign up here to receive email notification when the survey is available each quarter.
Source: https://meos-press.manpowergroup.us
