World – Employers forecast an increase in staffing levels across most markets

By memberservices@staffingindustry.com (Danny Romero)

Employers across the world are reporting positive hiring intentions in the first quarter of 2018, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.

The survey data showed that 41 out of 43 countries forecast an increase in staffing levels. The strongest outlooks globally are reported in the US, Japan, Taiwan and India. Meanwhile, employers in Australia, Japan, Norway, Romania and the US are reporting the healthiest hiring plans in five years or more.

In the UK, concerns over Brexit may be impacting employer confidence as the overall forecast dips to its weakest level since 2012.

“The first quarter of 2018 is looking bright for jobseekers with employment Outlooks improving in many markets,” Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chairman & CEO, said. “Employers across the globe and especially in the US, Asia Pacific and parts of Europe are positive across several sectors, and people with in-demand skills will find themselves in high demand. Employers will need to work hard to attract and develop people with the skills they need to remain competitive.”

“As globalisation and digital transformation impact different countries and industries at different times, upskilling and reskilling tomorrow’s workforce for available jobs will be critical for long-term employability,” Prising said. “The future looks positive, providing we help people develop the skills they need to capture these opportunities.”

Of the nearly 59,000 employers surveyed across 43 countries and territories confidence levels have strengthened year-on-year in 25 countries and territories.

In the EMEA region, staffing levels are expected to grow in 23 of 25 countries surveyed with flat labour markets in the remaining two. Employers in Romania and Slovenia report the strongest hiring plans.

In the UK, employer confidence is at the weakest level since 2012 due to uncertainty around the UK’s decision to leave the EU. In London, the Outlook fell to 0%.

“The national Outlook hasn’t dipped below +5% since the final quarter of 2012, yet this quarter we are seeing the worrying double whammy of a fall in confidence nationwide and flatlining hiring in London,” Mark Cahill, ManpowerGroup UK Managing Director, said. “This makes for a pretty bleak midwinter considering it comes at a time when Brexit talks are on a knife edge. It will no doubt prompt fears that our high-flying jobs market might be cooling off. The key indicator sectors of Finance and Business Services and the Public Sector have both seen a fall this quarter which could bear out this slowing-down.”

The report added that Brexit fears have boosted the transport sector by 10 points, to +12%, as employers “stockpile” permanent employees to avoid the pressure of a Brexit exodus on an ageing workforce.

In the Asia Pacific region, employers expect staffing levels to increase in all eight countries and territories with hiring sentiment strongest in Taiwan. The most cautious outlook in the region is reported in China.

Australia is forecasting the strongest labour market in more than six years with an Outlook of +14%. Meanwhile, hiring confidence in Japan remains solid with employers reporting the optimistic forecast since 2007.

Hiring intentions in India improve for the second consecutive quarter following the country’s weakest historical Outlook from Q3 2017. Increased opportunities for job seekers are expected in all seven industry sectors and across each of the four regions.

In the Americas, positive outlooks are reported in all ten countries surveyed. US employers report the region’s most upbeat forecast, with more than one in every five surveyed saying they intend to hire in the January-March time frame.

Source:: World – Employers forecast an increase in staffing levels across most markets