County Employment Picture Remains Clouded : Hiring: Employer survey finds that 18% expect to add to their payrolls during the second quarter, but 13% plan to cut jobs as the area’s recession recovery lags nation’s.

An increased number of Orange County employers plan to hire workers during the second quarter of 1993, but the local employment outlook remains clouded by the fact that many employers anticipate continued work-force reductions, according to a survey conducted by Manpower Inc.

While 18% of survey respondents intend to expand their work forces during the quarter beginning April 1, 13% plan to cut employment totals, said Sue Foigelman, area manager for Manpower. An additional 67% intend to make no work-force adjustments, and 2% aren’t sure whether employment will go up or down.

The Orange County survey results are in contrast with a more optimistic picture painted by national statistics. Nationwide, 26% of respondents want to expand in the second quarter this year, while just 7% anticipate staff reductions.

“Orange County is still lagging the rest of the country as far as coming out of the recession,” Foigelman said. “California in general is still lagging.

“The interesting thing about this survey is that volatility continues to be higher. Years ago, we used to have 80% or more saying that they had no changes planned. . . . Nowadays, either they’re increasing or decreasing. . . . Not as many say ‘no change.’ ”

In a survey completed in late 1991, 13% of respondents in Orange County planned to hire new workers during the current quarter, and 13% projected cutbacks.

A year ago, 13% of Orange County employers anticipated hiring new workers for the second quarter of 1992, while 5% planned cutbacks.

Manpower, a nationwide temporary-help company, conducts its Employment Outlook Survey on a quarterly basis. The survey is based on telephone interviews with more than 15,000 public and private employers.

Employment Outlook

Don’t look for massive increases in the size of Orange County companies’ payrolls during the second quarter. According to a survey by Manpower Inc., only 18% of the county’s employers are planning to increase their staffs. But if you are willing to relocate, Ventura County may be the ticket; employers there are bullish on hiring. Status Quo

Two of three Orange County employers say they will not change the size of their work forces during the second quarter. No change: 67% Increase: 18% Decrease: 13% Don’t know: 2% Hot Spots for Jobs

The best place to find a job in Southern California during the second quarter is Ventura County, where half of employers surveyed said they would be hiring. Most staff increases Ventura County: 50% Corona: 37% Riverside: 37% Van Nuys: 33% Los Angeles, downtown: 29% Los Angeles, city: 26%

Most staff decreases Los Angeles, downtown: 21% Century City: 20% Santa Barbara: 20% Van Nuys: 20% Los Angeles, city: 19% Bakersfield: 17% Pasadena: 17% Los Angeles airport: 17% San Bernardino: 17%

Source: Manpower Inc.