Q3 Hiring On The Mend

May 13, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The third quarter hiring picture is showing signs of life, according to a new survey.

Over a quarter (27%) of the firms responding said they planned to add jobs in the July through September timeframe, while 8% anticipate trimming staff, according to Manpower Inc.’s quarterly survey of 16,000 firms nationwide.

The rest either expect to maintain current staffing levels or were uncertain about hiring activities.

Seasonally adjusted, the findings reflect a 14% increase in hiring activity compared with the first half of the year.  They are nearly identical to the findings from the same period last year, but still somewhat below normal employment levels, according to an Associated Press report.

The survey said that the manufacturing sector improved the most, with 27% of employers in that sector anticipating hiring increases in the third quarter.

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