Employers ‘slightly more optimistic about hiring' in 1Q

Employers ‘slightly more optimistic about hiring' in 1Q

By: Brigid Sweeney December 07, 2010

(Crain's) — Chicago employers expect to hire at a steady pace during the first quarter, Manpower Inc. said Tuesday based on a survey of employers.

Of the companies surveyed in metro Chicago by the temporary-staffing company, 14% say they will hire more employees from January to March, while 10% plan to reduce their payrolls. The number of employers who foresee adding to their headcount is unchanged from the current quarter, while the number planning layoffs declined from 13%. In this year's first quarter, only 8% of employers expected to increase staff and 16% planned cutbacks.

In the upcoming quarter, another 72% plan to maintain their current staff levels and 4% are not certain of their hiring plans.

"Employers are slightly more optimistic about hiring plans for the first three months of 2011 compared to quarter four," said Anne Edmunds, Chicago regional director for Milwaukee-based Manpower.

The latest figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security put Chicago-area joblessness at 9.7% in October, down from 10.9% a year earlier. The state agency said 61,800 more people were working locally than in October 2009.

Within the state, unemployment remained relatively steady, dipping to 9.8% in October from 9.9% the previous month. A year ago, the jobless rate stood at 10.9%.

The Chicago area is in line with the rest of the U.S. when it comes to hiring plans, Manpower said. Throughout the U.S., 14% of the 18,000 U.S. firms surveyed expect to boost payrolls in the first quarter, while 10% expect cuts.

Among employers in metro Chicago, the best job prospects are in durable goods manufacturing, financial activities, education and health services.

Construction companies will reduce their staffing levels, while no change is foreseen in nondurable goods manufacturing, transportation, utilities, wholesale and retail trade, leisure and hospitality, government and information, professional and business services.



Read more: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20101207/NEWS07/101209903/employers-8216-slightly-more-optimistic-about-hiring-in-1q#ixzz17dLkjO5W
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