12 of 13 Industry Sectors to Add Staff In Q2

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 over 61,000 public and private employers worldwide and is considered a highly respected economic indicator.

According to the Survey released on Tuesday, employers in most major labor markets expect to hire in the second quarter at a pace equal to, or stronger than, the same period last year.

Many employers have yet to reach their pre-downturn hiring pace, but prospects in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and the US, are all registering modest improvements compared to three months ago and the same period last year. Employer hiring intentions are strongest in India, Brazil and Taiwan.

In the US, nearly three-quarters of employers surveyed say they plan to keep staff levels stable, Manpower said, while 12 of 13 industry sectors surveyed said they plan to add staff during the second-quarter. "We continue to see encouraging signs in hiring activity in the U.S.," said Manpower CEO Jeff Joerres in a statement. "Key industries such as manufacturing and construction are seeing notable improvements on a year-over-year basis."

The Manpower survey shows employers in 27 of 36 countries and territories expect some positive hiring activity in the second quarter. Employers in Panama were surveyed for the first time this quarter and report upbeat hiring plans for the next three months.

Of the 10 countries surveyed in the Americas region, hiring plans are stronger in comparison to one year ago in all countries where year-over-year data is available and stronger in six countries quarter-over-quarter. Regional hiring plans are again strongest in Brazil, Costa Rica and Peru. At the same time, hiring expectations from U.S. employers are stronger than those reported in the second quarter of 2009.

The survey adds to a mounting list of evidence that labor markets have turned the corner with healthy net US job additions in the months to come.