Anticipated Hirings at Seasonal High

Labor markets will remain tight throughout the winter, with demand for workers climbing to a seasonal high as more than a quarter of American companies anticipate hiring new employees in the first quarter of 2001. In a survey of 16,000 companies, being released today by the temporary staffing agency Manpower Inc., 27% said they planned to add staff in the first three months of the year--a record high among first quarters following record-setting demand for the previous two quarters. For the same period a year ago, 24% said they would increase their staffs. Of the companies surveyed about the upcoming quarter, 10% said they plan cutbacks, 58% anticipate no change and 5% are uncertain. The demand is slightly lower than three months ago, when 32% of those surveyed said they would add employees. Manpower President and Chief Executive Jeffrey Joerres said the hiring will not necessarily take place within sectors that traditionally have staffing demands at the beginning of the year. Among industries, the wholesale and retail, construction and providers of services showed particularly strong demand for workers. The margin of error in Manpower’s telephone survey, which included companies in 485 cities, is plus or minus 2 percentage points.