Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Predicts Favourable Hiring Climate in Canada for Fourth Quarter

Canadian employers project a steady hiring climate for the fourth quarter of 2005 according to results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The survey of more than 1,700 Canadian employers reveals that 26 per cent plan to increase their payrolls while 10 per cent anticipate cutbacks for a Net Employment Outlook of 16 per cent. Of those polled, 60 per cent expect no changes and four per cent are unsure of their staffing intentions.

With seasonal variations removed from the survey, the Net Employment Outlook of 20 per cent is a two per cent increase from the previous quarter; indicating hiring expectations continue to be strong through the final quarter of 2005.

“This quarter’s seasonally adjusted and raw Net Employment Outlooks are the strongest projected fourth quarter results since 2001,” said Lori Procher, spokesperson for Manpower Canada. “These are encouraging results for a quarter that usually features a more restrictive hiring climate.”

“The regional projections indicate a favourable hiring climate for both the east and west coasts,” Procher adds. “Employers in Western Canada continue to lead the country with a reported Net Employment Outlook of 28 per cent, followed by Atlantic Canada employers with a Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent. Ontario and Quebec employers also anticipate a steady hiring climate with Net Employment Outlooks of 13 and 10 per cent respectively.”

Employers in the Services sector expect an optimistic hiring climate for the upcoming quarter with a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +23 per cent. This is an increase of 6 per cent from the previous quarter when the Net Employment Outlook was +17 per cent and an increase of 5 per cent from the same time last year.

Of the 10 surveyed sectors, Mining sector employers report the most dynamic results for the fourth quarter of 2005 with a Net Employment Outlook of 49 per cent. Employers in the Construction sector anticipate a brisk three month period with a Net Employment Outlook of 32 per cent.