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Mar 12, 2013

U.S. employers continue to take a measured but optimistic approach to hiring plans for Q2 2013, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Here’s a handy infographic entitled Where the Jobs Are. It offers a snapshot of data and trends from the survey, including key state and metro-specific Outlooks along with an industry forecast.

Highlights

The seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook for Q2 2013 is +11 percent, down a point from Q1 but slightly up from +10 percent during the same period last year.

Other highlights:

  • Positive Trend in All States and Metro Areas. Employers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia report positive hiring plans.
  • Fewest Employers Decreasing Staff Levels. The overall percentage of employers who anticipate staff reductions is at 5 percent, the lowest since Q3 2000.
  • Stable Hiring Plans Reach Peak. Some 73 percent plan to maintain current staff levels, the highest since Q1 2011.

Best and worst states?

The best states for jobs in Q2? North Dakota, Maine, Alaska, Iowa, Montana, Utah and Wisconsin.

The worst? Hawaii, Washington, New Hampshire, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and Georgia.

Sunny and cloudy sectors?

Leisure & Hospitality, Professional & Business Services and Wholesale & Retail Trade have a sunny outlook for Q2.

Education & Health Services, Government and Construction have a cloudy outlook.

Behind the numbers

Of the more than 18,000 U.S. employers surveyed, 18 percent anticipate an increase in staff levels in Q1, while 5 percent expect a decrease, resulting in a seasonally adjusted Outlook of +11 percent. Some 73 percent of employers expect no change in hiring plans. Only 4 percent are undecided.

“Quarter over quarter our data reports slow and steady hiring projections, which is good news compared with the hiring downturns we experienced several years ago,” said Jonas Prising, Manpower Group president. “The main priority for employers today should be to refine management methods to build winning teams so they have the right people in place when the economy takes off again.”

The quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey measures employers’ intentions to increase or decrease their employment levels in the upcoming quarter. It is the most extensive forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in size, scope, longevity and area of focus.

Want more?

The complete results — including detailed breakdowns by industry, country, region, state and MSA — are available here.

Here’s a video featuring Jonas Prising, Manpower Group president, discussing the results in detail:

This was originally published on Manpower Group’s Employment Blawg.

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