Big U.S. Firms Predict Slightly Less Hiring

Major U.S. employers report hiring plans for the next fiscal year that are slightly less robust than last year, according to a survey by the American Management Assn. Respondents forecast an average net growth of 3.8% ending in June 2000, compared with last year’s expectations of 4.6% growth in the fiscal year ended June 1999. Although actual work-force growth last year--5%--was slightly better than predicted, it represented a slowdown from the 7.7% rate in the previous 12 months, the AMA said. The survey also underscored the tight labor market, with 65.5% saying that skilled employees are “scarce,” up from 60% a year ago.