The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, released today by ManpowerGroup, indicates elevated confidence for the final quarter of 2013 as U.S. employers report a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of +13%, the strongest fourth quarter Outlook since Quarter 4 2007 when the Outlook was +19%.

Of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed, 18 percent anticipate an increase in staff levels in their Quarter 4 2013 hiring plans, while 8 percent expect a decrease in payrolls. According to the seasonally adjusted survey results, the +13% Net Employment Outlook for Quarter 4 2013 is up from +12% during Quarter 3 2013 and from +11% during the same period last year.

U.S. Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Results

"We've seen consistent, yet measured, momentum in employers' hiring plans in a steadily improving market," said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup President. "Employers have reached a level of confidence in navigating unstable conditions, and the strength of the Quarter 4 2013 survey data suggests a stronger close to 2013."

This quarter's research shows the Outlook remains stable quarter-over-quarter and is slightly elevated compared to last year at this time. Intent to hire also continues to rise with 18 percent of employers indicating an increase in staff levels for Quarter 4 2013. This is the highest percentage of employers projecting an increase in hiring in the fourth quarter since before 2009 when the number consistently remained above 20 percent.

Growth is also reflected among several key industry sectors. At +22%, the Outlook for Wholesale & Retail Trade reflects a moderate increase in hiring year-over-year and is the strongest Outlook for this sector since it reached +26% in Quarter 4 2007. Construction employers also indicate continued progress when compared year-over-year, as the Net Employment Outlook increases slightly from +1% in Quarter 4 2012 to +5% in Quarter 4 2013.

"Employers plan to hire during the fourth quarter, particularly in the Wholesale & Retail Trade sector, and that's good news for job seekers looking for employment during the busy holiday season," said Prising. "Employers bring on new staff when they start seeing increased demand for their products and services, and this intention to hire may signal optimism among U.S. employers."

Among the 50 states, employers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas indicate the strongest Net Employment Outlook, all at +15%. Employers in all 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) surveyed report positive hiring plans, with the strongest Outlook in Houston, reaching +28%.

Hiring Outlooks for Industry Sectors and Regions
For Quarter 4 2013, employers have a positive Outlook in all 13 industry sectors included in the survey: Wholesale & Retail Trade (+22%), Leisure & Hospitality (+17%), Professional & Business Services (+13%), Transportation & Utilities (+11%), Information (+11%), Financial Activities (+10%), Mining (+9%), Education & Health Services (+9%), Durable Goods Manufacturing (+8%), Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (+7%), Construction (+5%), Government (+4%) and Other Services (+2%). When the industry sector data is compared quarter-over-quarter, employers in the Wholesale & Retail Trade and Education & Health Services sectors anticipate a slight hiring increase, while employers in the Information sector expect the hiring pace to remain stable. The hiring pace is expected to moderately decrease in seven industry sectors: Durable Goods Manufacturing, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Other Services and Government. A considerable decline in hiring is anticipated in the Mining, Construction and Leisure & Hospitality sectors.

A positive Net Employment Outlook is reported in all four U.S. regions. Quarter-over-quarter, plans to add employees are slightly stronger among employers in the Northeast, and remain essentially the same among employers in the Midwest, South and West. Compared to one year ago at this time, employers in the Northeast and West project a slight increase in hiring for Quarter 4 2013, and employers in the Midwest and South expect a stable hiring environment.