Manpower Group has released its fourth-quarter Global Employment Outlook survey results. Overall, global hiring is expected to remain steady in the upcoming quarter. Modest job gains are expected in 43 of the 44 countries surveyed. Large hiring surges are not expected anywhere in the upcoming quarter. Tariff negotiations and other changes among global trading partners are causing some challenges for employers. Other notable highlights from the survey are noted below.
The Americas
- Hiring plans in the US are the strongest in this region, on par with the previous quarter and slightly ahead of last year’s survey. This is buoyed once again by a very strong leisure and hospitality sector, followed by professional and business services and transportation and utilities.
- Mining and extraction continues to improve in Mexico, which is expecting hiring gains for the fourth consecutive quarter.
- Cautious optimism is the trend in Brazil, which has been slowly recovering from a steep economic decline. Hiring levels in the manufacturing and services sectors are at a four-year high.
Asia Pacific
- Eight countries are included in the survey from the Asia Pacific region. Employers in all eight countries anticipate hiring increases in the upcoming quarter.
- Japan has the most robust hiring outlook in the region. More than a quarter of employers would like to add headcount. Hiring activity is currently challenged by both an extreme talent shortage and an aging workforce.
- Taiwan expects a strong labor market, although uncertainty has been created due to a frosty trade environment between the US and China.
- Hiring activity in India is anticipated to be at its lowest levels since joining the survey more than 10 years ago. Slow growth is expected as opposed to an overall reduction in headcount.
- Australia continues its economic recovery with strong hiring plans in finance, insurance, and real estate as well as transportation and utilities.
EMEA
- Switzerland is the only country in the EMEA survey that does not forecast employment growth in the fourth quarter.
- German employers are reporting their strongest hiring activity in seven years, followed by stable growth in the UK and modest activity in France and Italy.
- Eastern European employers are reporting more positive hiring outlooks than other parts of the region. Romania and Slovenia have the strongest forecasts. Construction is a particularly strong sector for both countries. Hungary follows with a vibrant manufacturing sector supported by solid gains in construction.
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