I never put much stock in these types of surveys, but the local Pioneer Press reports on the recent Manpower survey:
Twin Cities employers expect to hire at a sluggish pace during the first quarter of 2007, a Manpower employment survey found. Of the companies interviewed about their hiring plans, 28 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. Another 48 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels. Just 18 percent plan to hire more employees.
This survey is a Q1 outlook only and one very important piece of data is our current unemployment. Minnesota is almost at full employment. Our unemployment rate is well under the national average so I am not surprised most local companies are planning to maintain current levels.
Turnover, an increasing trend amongst younger workers, will continue and those positions will need to be filled. Even though a small percentage of companies plan to expand, there will still be turnover-driven demand in this market.