********** http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2004/03/15/daily20.html
Pittsburgh Business Times online, March 17, 2004, 3:12 PM
Survey: Employment outlook strong for 2Q
Manpower Inc. said Tuesday that hiring in the second quarter is expected to be on strongest pace since the first quarter of 2001.
According to the Glendale, Minn.-based staffing firm's report, the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, 28 percent of U.S. employers expect to add jobs in the second quarter, compared with just 6 percent who expect to cut jobs. Sixty-two percent of employers see no change in employment levels, while 4 percent remained uncertain.
Manpower said the hiring prospects in the second quarter are nearly twice as positive as those in the second quarter of 2003. Company chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Joerres said demand for products and services has surpassed the capacity of the current workforce.
The improved employment outlook even includes the hard-hit durable goods manufacturing sector, where employers see a moderate increase in jobs over the previous quarter and significant growth compared with a year ago.
Employment in the construction industry had the strongest outlook of all industry sectors, according to the report. Construction employers are more optimistic about hiring than they have been since the late 1970s, according to seasonally adjusted data.
Hiring is expected to improve in all four U.S. regions and in all 10 industry sectors, compared with results from the previous quarter and the second quarter of 2003.
- - - - - John Lacny
People of the US, unite and defeat the Bush regime and all its running dogs!