Job Market Growth Seen in Manpower Inc. Survey

Ventura County will experience moderate growth in the job market during the first three months of next year, according to a survey released by Manpower Inc.

In the survey, done quarterly by the temporary-employment agency, 26% of county employers responding said they expect to increase their work force in the early part of next year, while 10% expect to reduce staffing. A fifth of those surveyed did not know what their employment needs would be, and 44% said they expect no change in their staffing.

Company officials said staffing expectations typically are low for January, February and March.

Job opportunities appear most promising this winter in durable goods manufacturing; finance, insurance, real estate and public administration. Staff cutbacks are predicted in construction, nondurable goods manufacturing and wholesale-retail trade. Mixed intentions are reported in services.

Nationally, the strong 1997 demand for workers is expected to continue into the new year, as 24% said they would recruit new employees, 10% plan cutbacks, 62% expect no change and 4% are uncertain.

The national survey is based on telephone interviews with more than 16,000 public and private employers in 48 U.S. cities.