Manpower Employment Outlook Survey

[23 March 2009]

MANPOWER EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK SURVEY

Employers in Scotland are reporting pessimistic hiring intentions for the second quarter of 2009 according to figures released in a recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, a quarterly study of over 2,100 UK employers’ hiring intentions covering the period April to June 2009.

The figures released today by Manpower, the UK’s leading employment experts, reveal downbeat hiring intentions in Scotland. The Net Employment Outlook is -7% and while the Outlook has improved by a slight two percentage points quarter-on-quarter, it is weaker by a considerable 11 percentage points year-on-year.

Jason Greaves, Head of Commercial Staffing at Manpower UK, says: “ Scotland has seen significant staff cutbacks within the finance and manufacturing sectors, with temporary workers proving the worst hit. At present, this is counterbalanced by the growth we’re seeing in the public sector, where a variety of roles are available.

“Employers are able to cherry pick from the large pool of talent available to them right now. It is vital, therefore, that job seekers adapt their expectations. This includes being willing to consider roles that may not be a natural fit with their skills, or that may not be in their ideal location as the harsh reality is that jobs – both temporary and permanent - are now harder than ever to come by.”

The majority of employers in the industry sectors surveyed will be reducing headcount rather than adding to their payrolls over the next three months, with employers in six of the nine industry sectors expecting to make staff cuts this coming quarter. Seven of the nine industry sectors report a decline in hiring confidence compared to last quarter, and eight of the nine show a decline compared to the same time last year.

The industry sectors hardest hit are: Construction (-17%), Mining & Quarrying (-11%), Hotels & Retail (-7%), and Finance & Business Services (-7%).