TORONTO, Sept. 9 /CNW/ – Canadian employers expect a positive hiring climate for the October to December period of 2008 according to the latest
results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, the most extensive,
forward-looking employment survey in the world.
The survey of more than 1,700 Canadian employers reveals that 20 per cent
expect to increase their payrolls in the next three months while seven
per cent of employers anticipate cutbacks, for a Net Employment Outlook of
13 per cent. Of those polled, 70 per cent expect no change and three per cent
are unsure of their staffing intentions for the upcoming quarter.
With seasonal variations removed from the survey data, the Net Employment
Outlook is 14 per cent. This is a one percentage point increase from the
previous quarter, indicating hopeful hiring intentions for the final quarter
of 2008.
“This quarter’s Net Employment Outlook suggests that Canadian employers
anticipate a steady hiring pace for the upcoming quarter” says Byrne Luft,
Vice President, Marketing for Manpower Canada. “Employers are indicating that
they will continue to increase their payrolls, but at a slightly slower rate
than last year at this time.”
“The hiring climates in Western and Atlantic Canada are ahead of the
national forecast,” adds Luft. Employers in Western Canada report an active
hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of 25 per cent. In Atlantic
Canada employers project a steady quarter with a Net Employment Outlook of
16 per cent. Employers in Quebec expect a weaker, yet still moderate fourth
quarter projecting a hiring pace of nine per cent. Ontario employers report a
modest quarter, projecting a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent.
Strengthened by robust projections in Western Canada, employers in the
Mining sector project a solid hiring pace with a seasonally adjusted Net
Employment Outlook of 28 per cent. In the Public Administration and
Construction sectors employers expect healthy hiring climates both reporting
seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlooks of 22 per cent. Employers in the
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate as well as employers in the Transportation
and Public Utilities sectors expect upbeat markets for job seekers reporting
Net Employment Outlooks of 20 and 17 per cent, respectively.
Mining
Reporting a five percentage point increase from the previous quarter,
employers in the Mining sector project a solid fourth quarter with a
seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 28 per cent. When compared to
the fourth quarter of 2007, the Outlook has decreased by ten percentage
points.
Public Administration
Employers in the Public Administration sector anticipate a steady hiring
climate with a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 22 per cent.
Hiring projections have increased by eight percentage points from the previous
quarter. However, this quarter’s forecast remains the same as last year’s
fourth quarter.
Construction
Reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 22 per cent,
employers in the Construction sector project an active staffing period for the
final quarter of 2008. The Outlook has increased 11 percentage points from the
previous quarter but has decreased six percentage points since the same time
last year.
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
With a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 20 per cent,
employers in the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate sector anticipate a
favourable hiring pace. This quarter’s forecast is six percentage points
stronger than the Outlook reported in third quarter. However, the Outlook is
four percentage points weaker when compared to the same time last year.
Transportation and Public Utilities
In the Transportation and Public Utilities sector employers predict a
positive hiring climate for the upcoming October to December period, reporting
a Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent once seasonal variations are removed
from the data – two percentage points weaker than the previous quarter when
the seasonally adjusted outlook was 19 per cent. When compared to the fourth
quarter of 2007, the Net Employment Outlook improves by two percentage points.
Services
Employers in the Services sector also expect a positive hiring climate
for the final quarter of 2008, reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment
Outlook of 17 per cent. This is on par with the Outlook reported last quarter
and is a slight decrease from the same time last year when the seasonally
adjusted Net Employment Outlook was 20 per cent.
Wholesale and Retail Trade
In the Wholesale and Retail Trade sector employers report a Net
Employment Outlook of 15 per cent once seasonally adjustments are made. This
is a five percentage point increase from the previous quarter. However, this
sector has experienced a ten percentage point decrease from the same time last
year. Despite these fluctuations employers expect an upbeat quarter for the
October to December period of 2008.
Manufacturing – Durable Goods
Employers in the Manufacturing – Durable Goods sector report a seasonally
adjusted Net Employment Outlook of 13 per cent, indicating a respectable
hiring climate. This is a seven percentage point increase from the previous
quarter when the seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook was six per cent
and is a one percentage point increase from the same time last year.
Manufacturing – Non-Durable Goods
Reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of ten per cent,
employers in the Manufacturing – Non-Durable Goods sector employers anticipate
a hopeful hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This is a ten percentage
point increase from the previous quarter when the sector experienced a flat
hiring climate. It is, however, a slight decrease from the same time last year
when the Net Employment Outlook was 11 per cent.
Education
Employers in the Education sector expect a mild hiring climate for the
upcoming quarter, reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of
four per cent. Employer optimism is declining when compared to the previous
quarter, when the Net Employment Outlook was eight per cent, and also by nine
percentage points from the same time last year.
About the Survey
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure
employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their
workforce during the next quarter. It is the most extensive forward-looking
survey of its kind, unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of
focus. The Survey has been running for more than 45 years and is one of the
most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. The Manpower
Employment Outlook Survey is based on interviews with more than 55,000 public
and private employers worldwide and is considered a highly respected economic
indicator.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is currently available for
32 countries and territories: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece,
Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Spain, South Africa,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
program began in the United States and Canada in 1962, and the United Kingdom
was added in 1966. Mexico and Ireland launched the survey in 2002, and 13
additional countries were added to the program in 2003. New Zealand joined the
program in 2004, China, India, Switzerland and Taiwan were added in 2005, and
Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica and South Africa joined in 2006. Colombia, the
Czech Republic, Greece, Guatemala, Poland and Romania joined in 2008. For more
information, visit the Manpower Inc. Web site at www.manpower.com and enter
the Research Center.
About Manpower Canada
With over 50 offices strategically located across the country, Manpower
Canada’s staffing services include administrative, industrial, skilled trades
and contact centre personnel as well as the assignment of contract
professionals in information technology, scientific, finance, engineering,
telecommunications and other professional areas under the Manpower
Professional brand. More information can be found on Manpower Canada’s Web
sites: manpower.ca and manpowerprofessional.ca.
For further information: John Settino, The iPR Group, (416) 901-5963,
john@theiprgroup.ca
