ManpowerGroup has released the results of its newest quarterly hiring outlook. For the upcoming quarter, some 59,000 employers located throughout the Americas, AsiaPac, and EMEA were surveyed about their hiring plans. In 42 of 43 countries, employers are planning to add to their payrolls in the next quarter. Twenty-one countries indicate an improved hiring outlook compared to a year ago. Globally, the most robust hiring outlooks are in India, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. A few highlights from the survey are included in this post:
The Americas
- The quarterly hiring outlook is strongest in the US, thanks to the continued confidence in the leisure & hospitality sectors. Other opportunities are expected to be strong in both wholesale and retail trade, and transportation and utilities.
- Job seekers in Colombia will see favorable hiring in agriculture, manufacturing, and services, as well as in finance, insurance and real estate.
- While the outlook remains negative in Brazil, it is improving both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year. Perhaps this is a signal that the job market is beginning to rebound after declining steadily since 2012.
- Considerable quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth is expected in Canada in the finance, insurance, and real estate sectors.
Asia Pacific
- Hiring is expected to remain brisk in India, particularly in the services and wholesale and retail trade sectors. This marks five consecutive quarters of optimism in India.
- Japan continues to struggle with an aging demographic and a shrinking labor pool. This means demand for talent is strong as there are fewer available candidates. Mining and construction is especially strong. This may be related to preparations for the 2020 Olympics.
- The quarterly hiring outlook in Australia is improving. All industry sectors and regions reported positive activity. There has been a concerted effort to diversify beyond mining and related areas, which is paying off. The most robust areas are transportation and utilities, finance and business services, and services.
- Singapore has now reported declines for seven consecutive quarters. The current hiring outlook is at its lowest point since Q3 2009; however, the finance, insurance, and real estate sector remains strong.
EMEA
- After a prolonged decline, the quarterly hiring outlook in Ireland has improved for two consecutive quarters and is at its highest level since Q2 2007. The strongest hiring activity is anticipated in the electricity, gas and water and the restaurants and hotels sectors.
- Brexit has (so far) had little impact on hiring plans for the upcoming quarter. Nearly 90 percent of UK employers intend to keep their current payrolls intact through the end of the year.
- In Spain, another optimistic forecast has 80% of industry sectors expecting growth through the end of the year. This is a marked improvement from the depressed hiring outlooks from 2008-2014.
- Manufacturing-related hiring is especially robust in Germany, and is now at its strongest level in two years.
Where are you seeing the strongest (or weakest) levels of hiring? Add your comments related to geography or sector below!
