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US Hiring Plans for Q1 2020

by Sarah Freiburger

We’ve all heard a talent shortage exists. However, what are employers reporting in regards to the first quarter of 2020 hiring? Manpower has released their projections for the first quarter that answer that question. More than 11,500 interviews were conducted with employers within the United States, including all 50 states,the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), theDistrict of Columbia and Puerto Rico, to measure hiring intentions for the first quarter of 2020 My post today will provide an overview of the findings. I encourage you to review the survey results in more detail.

% of Employers Expecting to Add Payrolls

Employers in 22 percent of U.S. businesses surveyed expect to add to payrolls in the first quarter of 2020, with 5 percent anticipating a decrease and 72 percent expecting no change. It is definitely a job seeker’s market with these types of results.

Top 5 Industry Sector Results

While Employers in all 13 U.S sectors expected to grow payrolls during the first quarter, these 5 industries had the largest increase expected:

  1. Leisure & Hospitality (+30%)
  2. Construction (+22%)
  3. Professional & Business Services (+22%)
  4. Wholesale& Retail Trade (+22%)
  5. Transportation & Utilities (+19%)

Regional Comparisons
The Midwest Outlook takes the lead by matching the strongest reported since 2001, with 23% of of employers expecting workforce gains. Regionally after that was:

  • South (21% net employment outlook)
  • West (17% net employment outlook)
  • Northeast (15% net employment outlook)

Global Outlook

Manpower also surveyed a total of 58,000 employers across 43 countries to report on a global outlook and employers in 42 of 43 countries and territories surveyed expect to grow payrolls. The strongest labor markets are anticipated in Greece, Japan, Taiwan, the U.S. and Romania, while the weakest hiring activity is expected in Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica, Italy and Spain.

 

What impact does this have on independent recruiters? While many exist, I suggest the following:

  • As an independent recruiter, bump up your business development efforts to retain new clients affected by talent shortage.
  • Employers unwilling to work with recruiters during the past four years may be more willing now to seek the professional assistance of an independent recruiter with such a tough candidate market, new techniques need to be employed to uncover passive talent.
  • If you are focused on one niche only, consider changing your niche or adding to your current niche, especially in areas where the market is not as tight.
  • Develop a recruiter networking group of trusted trading partners around the world to assist you with filling difficult jobs and placing candidates who can’t find a job locally.
Posted in: Recruiting Resources

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