More jobs expected in 2010 first quarter

Employers in all industry sectors and all regions are reporting a more upbeat hiring pace for the first quarter of 2010, the latest Manpower employment outlook survey shows.

The seasonally adjusted net employment outlook improved 12 percentage points to +13 percent, compared to the survey covering the fourth quarter of 2009.

That was due to a rise in the proportion of employers planning to increase hiring, which rose to 20 percent in the latest survey from 14 percent, along with a fall to 6 percent from 13 percent in the number planning to decrease workforce numbers.

Manpower New Zealand general manager sales and marketing Chris Riley said a talent shortage problem was set to return, after having been masked by the downturn.

``So now is the time for companies to get their talent strategy in order, before they face the twin pressures of needing to hire more people, and watching an exodus of existing employees,'' he said.

The latest survey of 521 employers, published today, showed the strongest employer hiring intentions since the third quarter of 2008, Manpower said. Hiring expectations were strongest in the wholesale and retail trade sector, where the net employment outlook jumped to +21 percent.

Employers in the public administration and education sector had the weakest hiring expectations, although the outlook of +7 percent was a 4 percentage point improvement from both the previous quarter, and from a year earlier.

Across the board, the outlook for each sector had improved from the quarter and the year earlier, Manpower said. Also, all regions had a positive employment outlook for the first time in more than a year.

Christchurch had the most significant boost in optimism, with an outlook of +14 percent, up from -4 percent last quarter.

Employers in Auckland, with +15 percent, and Wellington, with +10 percent, also reported notable improvements in employment optimism since last quarter.

``These results are good news and suggest that the New Zealand job market has not only stabilised, but is preparing for recovery,'' Mr Riley said.