U.S. Employers' Hiring Outlook Suggests Less Aggressive Q207

The quarterly survey of about 14,000 U.S. employers suggests that employers are more likely to maintain or reduce staffing activity rather than boost their hiring efforts. Fifty-nine percent expect no change in hiring pace, 7% plan to shave staffing levels and 6% were undecided.

In four of the 10 industry sectors surveyed, employers expect weaker hiring activity since the first quarter of 2007. Mining, Construction, Wholesale/Retail Trade and Services employers are less confident about hiring than they were in the first quarter, while Transportation/Public Utilities and Finance/Insurance/Real Estate hiring managers foresee improved job prospects during the spring months.

Employers in Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Education and Public Administration sectors said they foresee little change in hiring from the first quarter to the second quarter.

The survey also showed that hiring on a regional basis will remain relatively stagnant. Employers in the Northeast and South expect to maintain similar levels of employment activity, while those in the Midwest and West anticipate slightly weaker hiring conditions in the next three months. Employers in the South are the most optimistic about hiring and those in the Midwest are least optimistic.

For a the complete results of the Manpower survey go here