Hiring expectations in Q4 weaken but remain positive, Manpower Employment Outlook survey shows

Romanian employers report they will slow the pace of hiring in the final three months of the year, with hiring expectations dropping 9 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2011 as compared with last quarter, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today by Manpower Romania.

 Despite the considerable quarter-over-quarter decline, the net employment outlook still stands at a respectable 11 percent.

 And even after the quarter-over-quarter dip in the outlook, the survey of 763 Romanian employers reveals that more than one out of five Romanian employers indicate they will still add to their payrolls through the end of the year. 

 “At the time of the survey, the stock market was under a serious pressure and predictions of a potential double-dip recession in the United States may have affected employer confidence locally. However, the overall employment picture is still strong, especially compared to a year ago when the net employment outlook was at 0 percent- it’s now 11 percentage points stronger,” said Valentin Petrof, Country Manager of ManpowerGroup Romania.

 “We believe the real threat to growth isn’t a drop in demand but a shortage of skills. The ManpowerGroup’s recent global Talent Shortage Survey found that in Romania, skilled trades – on which many sectors rely heavily – are the nation’s number one area of talent shortage. Moreover Romanian employers are having the greatest difficulty in filling positions (53 percent) in the entire EMEA region,” Petrof added.

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 At the regional level, employers in all eight regions expect to increase staffing levels during Q4, 2011. The most optimistic hiring plans are reported in the South-West, where the Net Employment Outlook stands at 14 percent and upbeat hiring intentions are evident in four regions where the Outlook stands at 13 percent- Bucharest & Ilfov, the North-West, the South and the West. Employers in the Center report a respectable Outlook of 12 percent.

 In an industry sector comparison, employers in eight of the 10 industry sectors predict an increase in headcount during Q4, 2011. In the wholesale & retail trade sector, employers forecast solid headcount gains, with a net employment outlook of 23 percent.

 A steady hiring pace is expected in the manufacturing sector where the Outlook is 20 percent, and respectable headcount growth is anticipated by construction sector employers who report an outlook of 17 percent.

 The outlook for the transport, storage & communication sector stands at 12 percent, and employers in the finance, insurance, real estate & business services sector report an outlook of 8 percent. Meanwhile, in the agriculture, hunting, forestry & fishing sector, employers report a 4 percentage point decline in the outlook.
Otilia Haraga