Many employers expect to hire this spring

Recession or no recession, more than one-third of Utah employers believe they will be in a hiring mode during the second quarter.

Results of a Manpower Inc. employment outlook report show that 37 percent of the surveyed companies expect to add employees during the April-through-June period, while 17 percent figure on decreases. Forty-four percent expect no head count changes.

Thirty-three percent of Salt Lake respondents indicated an expectation of hiring during the quarter, while 7 percent anticipated staff cuts. Sixty percent expected to maintain current staff levels.

"Compared with the first quarter of 2008, when 27 percent of companies interviewed intended to add employees and 7 percent planned to reduce staff levels, (Salt Lake) area hiring levels appear to be stronger," Manpower spokeswoman Kimberly Barksdale said this week in a news release. "Employers are much less optimistic about hiring activity as compared to one year ago, when 60 percent of companies surveyed planned to increase staff levels and none expected to cut payrolls."

The biggest hiring surge could be in Ogden, where 47 percent of respondents said they expect to add employees, while 46 percent expect no change.

The outlook wasn't as rosy in Orem, where 43 percent of respondents expect to let some workers go, while 30 percent plan to boost employment.

Based on the survey, Utah's best second-quarter job prospects appear to be in mining, durable and nondurable goods manufacturing, transportation/public utilities, finance/insurance/real estate and services. The education sector likely will see cuts, the wholesale/retail trade outlook is mixed, and the construction and public administration areas expect to maintain current employment levels.

Nationally, 60 percent of the 14,000 employers surveyed said they will remain at current employment, while 26 expected a hiring surge and 9 percent foresaw reductions. Five percent were undecided.

"A slowing in hiring intentions reflects a widespread wait-and-see approach among employers," Jeffrey A. Joerres, chairman and chief executive officer of Manpower Inc., said in a prepared statement. "However, the survey data point to a gradual and measured downshift, not a sudden and overwhelming change. Interestingly, this data does not look like previous recessionary periods, where we experienced much more accelerated declines."

Manpower said the 2008 second-quarter forecast was the weakest national outlook since the 2004 first quarter.

"While the survey results indicate increased employer hesitation toward adding staff, it's not all bad news," said Jonas Prising, president of Manpower North America. "Select industries — including services, transportation/public utilities and mining — appear to be staged for some growth opportunities."

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E-mail: bwallace@desnews.com