Milwaukee — Dec. 10
Employers across the globe expect a cautious yet positive approach to hiring for the start of 2014, despite ongoing economic uncertainty and disruption. Upticks in payrolls are anticipated by varying degrees, according to the first-quarter Manpower Employment Outlook survey.
This quarter's research of more than 65,000 hiring managers across 42 countries and territories reveals:
Encouraging New Year Signs for Global Labor Market
Employers in 34 of 42 countries and territories expect to increase payrolls in the next three months, compared with 29 in the fourth quarter of 2013. Hiring plans strengthen in exactly half of countries and territories, weakening in 15 quarter-over-quarter. Outlooks are stronger in 21 countries and territories compared with one year ago at this time, and decline in 17.
Where First Quarter Hiring Plans are Strongest
Employers in Taiwan, India, New Zealand, Colombia and Singapore report the most optimistic outlooks, while the weakest — and only negative — outlooks are reported in Italy, Ireland, Finland, Spain, Slovakia and Belgium.
Japan Outlook Strongest in Nearly Six Years
Japanese employers report the most optimistic hiring intentions since the second quarter of 2008, with Tokyo's outlook the strongest since the third quarter of 2008, while their Chinese counterparts anticipate no change in hiring plans.
Brazil Slows Back to the Pack
Brazilian employers forecast their weakest hiring climate since the survey began in the fourth quarter of 2009, but still expect favorable hiring. Elsewhere in the Americas, U.S. employers report steady hiring activity and the region's least optimistic hiring plans are reported in Argentina.
Europe Fragile But Greece Makes Strides
As in the previous quarter, Europe's strongest hiring plans are reported in Turkey. Greek employers forecast the strongest hiring pace since the fourth quarter of 2008, improving by 6 and 17 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2013, respectively.
Source: ManpowerGroup