Global employment outlook foresees strong hiring activity

Employers are optimistic about adding to their workforces in the first quarter of 2007, with those in 20 countries and territories reporting more robust hiring plans than one year ago, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey of global hiring trends released December 12 by Manpower Inc.

In contrast to the first quarter of 2006, European employers in 11 of 12 countries say they will boost year-over-year hiring activity, with employers in Germany reporting a second consecutive quarter of positive job prospects. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, gathering data from nearly 50,000 employers across 27 countries and territories each quarter.

"The global labor market looks set for a positive start to 2007 with employers in most of Europe and Asia planning to increase hiring compared to the first quarter of 2006, and the U.S. job market continuing to plug along at a steady pace," said Jeffrey Joerres, chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc. "The German labor market appears to be gaining momentum with a second consecutive quarter of healthier job prospects ahead, while employers in Singapore and India are set to accelerate hiring considerably from 12 months ago."

The first quarter of the year is historically a slow period for hiring in many countries, as holiday workers finish their assignments and the colder winter months inhibit work in the northern hemisphere in industries such as agriculture, construction and tourism.

The Manpower survey showed the most optimistic hiring expectations for the first quarter are in Peru, Singapore, India, Argentina, South Africa, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Employers in Belgium, Costa Rica, Peru, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and South Africa are reporting their most optimistic hiring plans since the survey began in these countries. In addition, the survey was expanded to Argentina this quarter, where employer hiring expectations are among the strongest in the survey.

Of the six countries surveyed in the Americas, Peruvian employers are the most optimistic about adding to their workforces, while employers in the remaining countries expect continued positive hiring activity. The hiring pace is expected to be similar from one year ago in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

"Although the overall hiring outlook remains healthy in the U.S., we are seeing a little more caution by employers, especially in the construction, manufacturing-durables and finance/insurance/real estate sectors, where hiring is expected to slow from both the fourth quarter and one year ago," said Joerres. "On the upside, U.S. employers in the Services sector, as well as those in Mexico and Canada, say they will continue their strong pace of hiring. Notably, the Mexican labor market continues a strong steady growth trend that began in third quarter of 2004."

Across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, job prospects are strongest in South Africa, Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Belgium, while Italian employers report the weakest regional hiring expectations. Employers in Norway are the only ones in the region indicating that they will slow hiring from one year ago. This quarter's result from Norwegian employers is the weakest in two years.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe, in Asia Pacific, hiring prospects remain strong but are slightly weaker than three months ago. Compared to first quarter of 2006, hiring is expected to improve in seven of eight countries and territories surveyed. Hiring expectations are strongest in Singapore and India, and weakest in Taiwan. Regional data was added for the first time this quarter in China, where employers are the most optimistic about adding staff in Beijing and least optimistic in Wuhan.