US Employment Outlook Optimistic for 4Q06

Survey results showed 8% of respondents expect a decline in staffing for the fourth quarter, while 58% expect no change in hiring levels. When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the fourth quarter net employment outlook is about the same as for the past 10 quarters.

By industry, the employment outlook is expected to improve in the Mining sector and decline slightly for the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate and Education sectors, according to the survey results. Hiring activity is expected to remain consistent with third quarter in theConstruction, Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation/Public Utilities, Wholesale/Retail Trade, Services and Public Administration sectors.

By US region, the strongest job prospects will be in the West. Employers in the Midwest report the weakest hiring outlook for the fourth quarter, and employers in the Northeast as well are not as optimistic as for third quarter.

The USsurvey results are here .

According to a Manpower news release, employers in all of the 26 countries and territories Manpower surveyed expect to add to their workforces in the fourth quarter of 2006. The strongest activity is anticipated in Peru, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, while the weakest hiring activity is forecast in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

Manpower gathers data from more than 49,000 employers across the globe each quarter for its Employment Outlook Survey. Full survey results for each country or territory can be viewed at http://www.manpower.com/meos .