U.S. Hiring Intentions at 12-Year High as Demand for Workers is Set to Grow in 2019
The competition for skilled talent is set to rise in the first quarter of 2019 as employers across the U.S. are reporting the strongest hiring intentions in 12 years, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey released on December 11, 2018. More than 12,500 U.S. employers report double-digit Outlooks across all four regions indicating continued employer optimism.
All 13 industry sectors forecast optimistic hiring plans with the strongest hiring Outlook in Transportation & Utilities as consumer expectations for on-demand delivery grows. Hiring intentions remain robust in Leisure & Hospitality (+27%) with more Americans spending on travel and tourism indicative of strong consumer confidence in a healthy economy. Professional & Business Services has the third strongest Outlook (+25%), driving the need for a breadth of workers from insurance to information technology.
Locally, Michigan employers expect to hire at a favorable pace during Quarter 1 2019. Among employers surveyed, 24% plan to hire more employees from January through March. This number is offset by the 6% that plan to reduce payrolls, while 69% of employers expect to maintain current staff levels and 1% indicate they are not sure of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook of 18%.
“Increased employer optimism tells us employers have jobs to fill, yet we know they are struggling to find the talent they need from production line workers to IT professionals,” said Becky Frankiewicz, President of ManpowerGroup North America. “With so many U.S. organizations set to hire in an already tight labor market, skilled workers can call the shots. For some workers benefits including childcare facilities, free transportation, or the offer of certification and career progression are key. We’ve seen large organizations increase wages and add new perks and benefits like unlimited paid-time-off to compete for talent. Employers can increase their offer, yet ultimately there is a finite supply of skilled talent, unless we’re investing in development and giving employees the chance to upskill, move up and earn more. That’s why we’re working with companies from transportation to high-tech IT to implement accelerated upskilling programs to help people learn skills to do the jobs open today and those created tomorrow.”
To read the full Manpower Employment Outlook Survey for the U.S., go to: manpowergroup.us/MEOS/ or to access the downloadable pdf version of the complete report, click here.
The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on March 12, 2019 to report hiring expectations for Quarter 2 2019. Sign up here to receive email notification when the survey is available each quarter.
Source: manpowergroup.us/MEOS/
