Metropolitan Milwaukee is the top-ranked metro market in the nation for hiring prospects in the next three months, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today.
According to the survey, 31 percent of employers in the Milwaukee, Waukesha and West Allis metropolitan statistical area (MSA) plan to hire more in employees from July to September, while just 2 percent expect to reduce staff, producing a net employment outlook of 29 percent, the best in the nation.
Another 62 percent expect to maintain their current workforce levels and 5 percent are not certain of their hiring plans.
“The employment forecast for the third quarter is considerably healthier compared to the second quarter of 2012 when the Net Employment Outlook was 16 percent,” said Manpower spokeswoman Nicole Langley. “Employers expect improved employment prospects compared with one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 21 percent.”
For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in Construction, Durable Goods Manufacturing, Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and Government.
Hiring in Other Services is expected to remain unchanged.
Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed in the United States, 21 percent expect to add to their workforces, and 6 percent expect a decline in their payrolls during Quarter 3 2012. Seventy-one percent of employers anticipate making no change to staff levels, and the remaining 2 percent of employers are undecided about their hiring plans. When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the Net Employment Outlook is +11 percent, similar to the Quarter 2 2012 Net Employment Outlook of +10 percent.
Hiring confidence among U.S. employers continues to inch up as all states, regions and industries surveyed report a positive Net Employment Outlook, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
“In our on-demand world, seeing long-term changes can be difficult, but it is important to keep in mind that employer confidence has been on an upward trajectory for three years,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup president of the Americas. “While slow and sometimes frustrating, job growth has proven to be sustainable, and the data shows a solid foundation is in place for continued progress. “This recovery continues to progress slowly, and we need more focus on structural challenges in the labor market in order to drive hiring acceleration in the future.”
Prising added,”Talent mismatch is a top concern, with half of U.S. employers struggling to find the right people with the right skills for their businesses. The key to solving this mismatch is to create solid partnerships between business leaders and the colleges, vocational institutions and high schools in their markets so job seekers can learn the relevant skills necessary for employment success.”
