ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey: Favourable Hiring Plans for the First Quarter of 2019; Job Prospects Strongest in the Transportation & Public Utilities Sector

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Slow but steady gains in employment are anticipated by Canadian employers over the next three months, with a favourable hiring climate for job seekers in the first quarter of 2019. Employers in the Transportation & Public Utilities sector report the strongest job prospects according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world.

With seasonal variations removed from the data, the Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent is a two percentage point decrease compared to the previous quarter and is unchanged compared to the Outlook reported during the same time in 2018.

The survey of over 1,900 employers across Canada reveals that 14 per cent plan to increase their staffing levels in the first quarter of 2019, while six per cent anticipate cutbacks. Of the employers surveyed, 79 per cent expect their current staffing levels to remain unchanged, while the remaining one per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions.

"Canadian job growth slowed during the last quarter of 2018. While the unemployment rate fell to a 40-year low of 5.8%, job growth fell short of expectations in October," said Darlene Minatel, Country Manager for ManpowerGroup Canada. "Employers are having difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill open jobs, which, in turn, is driving up wages but companies are also trying to do more with less to stay competitive. Employees are being asked to do more work with less pay and an increasing number of employers are investing in automation to perform labour-intensive functions."

Public Administration
Employers in this sector report a Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent for the first quarter of 2019, indicating an upbeat hiring pace. This is a two percentage point decrease from the forecast reported for the previous quarter, and is the same number compared to the first quarter of 2018.

Manufacturing ? Durables
The Net Employment Outlook in the Manufacturing ? Durables sector is a strong 20 per cent this quarter. This is a two percentage point increase from the Outlook reported last quarter and is unchanged from the Outlook in the same quarter last year.

Transportation & Public Utilities
Employers in the Transportation & Public Utilities sector anticipate active hiring opportunities, reporting the highest Net Employment Outlook of any sector at 21 per cent for the first quarter of 2019. This is a six percentage point increase from the forecast reported for the previous quarter, and a decrease of five percentage points compared to the same time last year.

Services
Employment prospects in the Services sector remain steady for the first quarter of 2019, with a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent. This is a two percentage point decrease when compared to the previous quarter and the same number for the Outlook reported during the same time in 2018.

Construction
Job seekers in the Construction sector should expect to see a favourable hiring pace for the upcoming quarter with a Net Employment Outlook of 18 per cent. This forecast is an increase of two percentage points from the Outlook reported in the previous quarter and a 14 percentage point increase compared to the same time last year.

Manufacturing ? Non-Durables
In the Manufacturing ? Non-Durables industry, employers report a Net Employment Outlook of seven per cent, indicating a modest hiring environment in the coming quarter. This forecast is a decrease of five percentage points from last quarter and a six percentage point decrease over the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Mining
Employers in the Mining sector forecast a moderate hiring climate with a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent for the first quarter of 2019. This represents a four percentage point decrease from last quarter and is the same number in the Outlook reported during the same time in 2018.

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
In the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate sector, employers anticipate a steady hiring climate for the first quarter of 2019, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 15 per cent. Hiring prospects are three percentage points stronger in comparison with 4Q 2018 and a substantial 11 percentage points weaker when compared with the same period one year ago.

Education
Employers in the education sector expect a respectable increase in staffing levels for the upcoming quarter reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent. This Outlook is an increase of one percentage point from last quarter and a three percentage point increase from the Outlook reported during the same quarter last year.

Wholesale & Retail Trade
In the Wholesale & Retail Trade sector, employers anticipate a positive labour market, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 11 per cent. This reflects a three percentage point increase compared to the previous quarter's forecast, and an increase of three percentage points from the Outlook reported during the same time in 2018.

Hiring Intentions Most Respectable in Quebec
Survey results for the first quarter of 2019 show that job seekers across much of Canada can expect upbeat levels of hiring activity. Employers in Quebec expect the most favourable hiring climate for the coming quarter, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent. Employers in Ontario and Western Canada anticipate an upbeat hiring pace, with employers in these regions reporting Outlooks of 12 and 11 per cent, respectively. Job seekers in Atlantic Canada should plan for a conservative hiring climate, with employers reporting an Outlook of 10 per cent.

Large and Medium-sized Organizations Expect Most Positive Hiring Climate
Employers in large (250+ employees) and medium (50-249 employees) sized organizations report the most positive hiring plans for the upcoming quarter, reporting seasonally adjusted Outlooks of 35 and 18 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, employers in small organizations (10-49 employees) report a moderate Outlook of 10 per cent, while those in micro-sized organizations (1-9 employees) expect a fair hiring pace, reporting an Outlook of three per cent for the upcoming quarter.

Note to Editors
Full survey results for each of the 44 countries and territories included in this quarter's survey, plus regional and global comparisons, can be found at http://manpowergroup.com/press/meos_landing.cfm. In addition, all tables and graphs from the full report are available to be downloaded for use in publication or broadcast from the Manpower Web site at www.manpower.ca > Employers > Research and Insights.
Note that in Quarter 2 of 2008, the survey adopted the TRAMO-SEATS model for seasonal adjustment of data. As a result, you may notice some seasonally adjusted data points change slightly from previous reports. This model is recommended by the Eurostat department of the European Union and the European Central Bank and is widely used internationally.

About the Survey
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the most extensive forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus. The Survey has been running for more than 55 years and is one of the most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is based on interviews with nearly 60,000 public and private employers worldwide and is considered a highly respected economic indicator.

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is currently available for 44 countries and territories: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The program began in the United States and Canada in 1962, and the United Kingdom was added in 1966. Mexico and Ireland launched the survey in 2002, and 13 additional countries were added to the program in 2003. New Zealand joined the program in 2004, China, India, Switzerland and Taiwan were added in 2005, and Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica and South Africa joined in 2006. Colombia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Guatemala, Poland and Romania joined in 2008; Brazil and Hungary joined in 2009; Panama joined in 2010 and Israel and Slovakia joined in 2011. Finland joined the survey in 2012, Portugal joined in 2016, and Croatia launches the survey for the first time with this edition. For more information, visit the ManpowerGroup Web site at www.manpowergroup.com and enter the Research Center.

About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for over 400,000 clients and connect 3+ million people to meaningful, sustainable work across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands ? Manpower®, Experis®, Right Management® and ManpowerGroup® Solutions ? creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across 80 countries and territories and has done so for 70 years. In 2018, ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the eighth consecutive year and one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies, confirming our position as the most trusted and admired brand in the industry. See how ManpowerGroup is powering the future of work: www.manpowergroup.com 

SOURCE The IPR Group