Survey reports job growth for Youngstown

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Job growth is expected to be solid for employers in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman region in the fourth quarter, according to a survey released by ManpowerGroup.

The Milwaukee-based company conducts surveys each quarter to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforces during the next quarter. The survey does not predict overall job gains.

From October to December, 17 percent of the companies interviewed are expected to hire more employees, while 6 percent expect to reduce staff levels. An additional 73 percent expect to maintain their current workforce, while 4 percent are uncertain about their hiring plans. This yields a net employment gain of 11 percent, an increase from 8 percent last year, according to the survey.

“Compared to one year ago when the net employment outlook was 8 percent, local employers expect a slightly brighter hiring forecast,” Jeanne Farmer, a spokeswoman for ManpowerGroup, said in a statement.

In the United States, 19 percent expect to increase workforces, while 7 percent expect a decline of staff levels in the fourth quarter of this year.

Seventy-two percent of employers anticipate making no change to workforce levels, with the remaining 2 percent of employers undecided about their hiring plans.

With seasonal variations removed from the data, the net employment outlook is plus 15 percent.

The survey results are based on interviews with more than 18,000 employers located in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which include the largest 100 metropolitan areas based on the number of business establishments.

The next survey will be released Dec. 9 for expectations in the first quarter of 2015.