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Third Quarter Hiring Pace Modest In Metro Detroit

Employers in the Detroit area expect to hire at a modest pace in the third quarter of the year, according to the quarterly employment outlook survey from the Milwaukee temporary staffing firm Manpower Inc.

All told, 15 percent of companies surveyed plan to hire more employees, while 12 percent plan to cut staff. Another 70 percent plan to maintain current staff levels, while 3 percent said they didn't know. That leads to a net employment outlook of a positive 3 percent.

That's down from a net employment outlook of a positive 7 percent in the second quarter. Three months ago, an identical 15 percent of employers said they planned to add staff, but only 8 percent said they planned to cut staff. The other 77 percent said they'd maintain staff levels or weren't sure.

But it's slightly higher than the third quarter of 2010, when the net employment outlook was positive 2 percent.

Manpower said that in the Detroit area, job prospects appear best in construction, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trades, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. Employers in information, education, health services and government plan to cut staffing levels, while financial activities and other services report mixed intentions.

Across Michigan as a whole, things look brighter. Fully 25 percent of employers plan to add staff in the third quarter, while only 10 percent plan to cut staff. Another 62 percent plan to stand pat and 3 percent don't know. That results in a net employment outlook of positive 15 percent, up from positive 9 percent for the second quarter and 6 percent for the third quarter 2010.

Statewide, job prospects look best in construction, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, financial activities, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality and other services. Employers in information, education, health services and government plan to cut staffing levels.

Nationwide, 20 percent of employers plan to add staff in the third quarter, while 8 percent expect a decrease in payrolls, resulting in a net employment outlook of plus 12 percent.

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