ManpowerGroup's Global Hiring Confidence Index Shows Expectations in India and China Cool Off for 4Q as Brazilian and Taiwanese Employers Continue to Report Robust Hiring Plans

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"The spark of optimism seen in the global labor market last quarter did not take hold, as employers in the majority of countries we research are now throttling their hiring needs. Companies across the world are now more agile and quick to adjust to macro threats and decreased demand in their own businesses, giving employers a hyperactive index finger when it comes to hitting the start/stop button on hiring," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup. "Just like financial markets, labor markets continue to adjust to the 'new normal' and there will continue to be turbulence.  Navigating this seesawing demand is difficult for employers, but most employers continue to be thoughtful and cautious in their hiring. For example, India's less confident outlook is due partially to weaker U.S. demand, as the U.S. accounts for almost 60 percent of the revenues in the $60 billion Indian IT industry. At the same time, we see job prospects in China decline for the fourth consecutive quarter as employers—especially small businesses—continue to struggle with increasing labor costs. There is good news in Japan with employers' optimism now the strongest in three years, as companies in the earthquake-devastated Tohoku region are returning to regular production schedules and government job initiatives for displaced workers aid the recovery."

ManpowerGroup's labor market research reveals fourth quarter hiring expectations are positive in 36 of 41 countries and territories, with Net Employment Outlooks softening from three months ago in 21 countries and territories, but improving in 20 compared to this time last year. Hiring intentions for the final quarter of 2011 are strongest in Brazil, Taiwan, India, Singapore, Panama, New Zealand, Colombia and Hong Kong, and weakest in Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain. This quarter, employers in Slovakia and Israel are polled for the first time.

Across the Asia Pacific region, employer hiring demand remains healthy and forecasts improve or remain stable quarter-over-quarter in five of the eight countries and territories surveyed. Compared to this time last year, employer optimism is mixed, with Outlooks improving in four of the eight countries and territories. Regional hiring plans continue to be strongest in Taiwan, India and Singapore fueled by demand in the Services sector. Meanwhile, Japanese employers report the region's weakest hiring pace, although the Outlook continues to grow steadily.

"India hiring expectations remain healthy, but are notably weaker from three months ago with 1 in 4 employers telling us they're uncertain about adding to payrolls," said Joerres. "The danger for countries with prolonged high unemployment rates today is that the longer workers stay on the sidelines, their skills erode, as does the national workforce potential of tomorrow—recovery stimulus must focus on job creation through iterative skills training to get labor markets running again."

Fourth quarter labor market trends in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region follow the same mixed results seen throughout 2011, with positive hiring activity expected in 18 of 23 countries surveyed. Outlooks soften from three months ago in 13 countries but improve in 11 compared to one year ago. Regional hiring plans are strongest in Turkey, Israel, Norway and Bulgaria, and weakest in Greece and Italy. Although hiring is expected to be in positive territory, Manufacturing job prospects weaken across most of Europe despite a continued steady hiring forecast from German industry.

"Although there has been a downward revision of annual GDP growth for Germany, job prospects for the country are expected to remain steady with Manufacturing employers indicating the strongest talent demand in three years. Although the sector was a bright spot across Europe in the third quarter, the continuing German optimism doesn't extend to the rest of the region where Manufacturing outlooks decline from three months ago in 18 of 21 countries," said Joerres. "To the north, employers in the Nordic countries of Sweden and Norway expect to end the year on a high note, reporting their strongest hiring plans since 2008. Meanwhile, the jobs picture is worsening in Greece and Italy as economic woes continue."

Across the 10 countries Manpower surveys in the Americas, employer hiring plans remain positive in all countries, with Net Employment Outlooks remaining relatively stable or improving in five of the 10 countries in comparison to the third quarter and in six countries year-over-year. As was the case last quarter, employer hiring expectations are strongest in Brazil and weakest in the U.S., where job seekers should expect to see limited hiring activity in the final quarter of 2011.

"Although we expect continued positive labor market activity in the U.S., employers there are less confident than they were three months ago, with unadjusted data revealing softer job prospects in 12 of 13 industry sectors," said Joerres. "In contrast, in Brazil, an unemployment rate of six percent and continued strong demand from employers in the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate and Manufacturing sectors is creating intense competition for skilled professional workers—especially those in engineering disciplines where demand for new engineers is expected to outstrip supply by 20 percent."

The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on 13 December 2011 to report hiring expectations for the first quarter of 2012.  The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is available free of charge to the public through their local Manpower representative in participating countries. To receive e-mail notification when the survey is available each quarter, interested individuals are invited to complete an online subscription form at: http://www.manpowergroup.com/investors/alerts.cfm.

About the Survey

The global leader in innovative workforce solutions, ManpowerGroup releases the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the longest running, most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, polling over 65,000 employers in 41 countries and territories. The survey serves as a bellwether of labor market trends and activities and is regularly used to inform the Bank of England's Inflation Reports, as well as a regular data source for the European Commission, informing its EU Employment Situation and Social Outlook report the Monthly Monitor. ManpowerGroup's independent survey data is also sourced by financial analysts and economists around the world to help determine where labor markets are headed.

About ManpowerGroup™

ManpowerGroup™ (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, creates and delivers high-impact solutions that enable our clients to achieve their business goals and enhance their competitiveness. With over 60 years of experience, our $22 billion company creates unique time to value through a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions that help clients win in the Human Age. These solutions cover an entire range of talent-driven needs from recruitment and assessment, training and development, and career management, to outsourcing and workforce consulting. ManpowerGroup maintains the world's largest and industry-leading network of nearly 3,900 offices in over 80 countries and territories, generating a dynamic mix of an unmatched global footprint with valuable insight and local expertise to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, across all industry sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, local, multinational and global companies. By connecting our deep understanding of human potential to the ambitions of clients, ManpowerGroup helps the organizations and individuals we serve achieve more than they imagined - because their success leads to our success. And by creating these powerful connections, we create power that drives organizations forward, accelerates personal success and builds more sustainable communities. We help power the world of work. The ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup™ Solutions, Manpower®, Experis™ and Right Management®. Learn more about how ManpowerGroup can help you win in the Human Age at www.manpowergroup.com.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup