According to this CNNMoney.com article, 2010 hiring will be steady and growing (emphasis mine):
“We see a healthy expansion under way, although it will take time to reduce economic slack and repair damaged balance sheets,” said Lynn Reaser, president of the National Association for Business Economics, which conducted the survey of 48 top economic forecasters in late January and early February.
I wonder if those are the same “economic forecasters” who are perpetually surprised by the latest economic news? Nonetheless, I don’t mind a little positive outlook during this recession:
The NABE panelists expect that jobs will return slowly this year, forecasting an average monthly increase of 50,000 jobs in the first quarter, followed by average monthly job gains of 103,000 the rest of the year. The unemployment rate, which now stands at 9.7%, is expected to tick down to 9.6% by the fourth quarter.
I know, the last line (…tick down to 9.6%) is glaring in a macabre sort of way. Still, let’s hope these forecasts are underestimate.