Hiring intentions swing back to positive: Manpower
After trending down for more than 12 months, Manpower's Employment Outlook survey has ticked upwards, and moved back into positive territory for the next quarter.
Net hiring intentions for the next three months rose a seasonally adjusted 3 percentage points to 2%, from -1% in the previous quarter.
The survey canvassed 2,800 employers and found 71% of hiring managers expected to retain their existing staff levels, while 14% expected to reduce staff and 14% expected an increase.
This gave a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of positive 2% for the forthcoming quarter.
The study showed stark differences in the employment outlook between the states, with Queensland slumping to a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of -5%. This was the weakest result for Queensland since late 2003.
NSW had a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of -2% and Victoria -1%.
WA returned to positive 6% from negative 3% in the previous quarter and Tasmania remained positive at 2%.