The hiring outlook for the remainder of the year is being bandied about by the media, but the latest Manpower survey paints a fairly clear picture of a strong market:
Of the 14,000 U.S. employers surveyed, 27% expect to increase their workforces during the fourth quarter of 2007, while 9% expect to trim their payrolls. Fifty-eight percent expect no change in the hiring pace, and 6% are undecided about their hiring plans.
The seasonally adjusted survey results show that in the majority of industry sectors the hiring pace is expected to remain steady during the final months of 2007. Employers in Construction, Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale/Retail Trade, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate, Education and Services foresee a hiring climate that is relatively unchanged from the third quarter forecast. Mining and Transportation/Public Utilities employers anticipate a slight downturn in hiring pace, while employers in the Public Administration sector foresee improved job prospects compared to the previous quarter.
Notice how 58% foresee “no change” in their hiring pace in Q4. That doesn’t mean they are slowing down, just sticking to their plan. No matter how the mainstream media attempts to frame the current economy, we are seeing an active sales hiring market.