Hiring Survey Expects Steady Fourth Quarter Job Growth In Wisconsin

The latest results from a quarterly hiring survey show a positive jobs outlook for the remainder of the year in Wisconsin.

Manpower, a Milwaukee-based temporary employment services firm, says 23 percent of Wisconsin employers polled by the company expect to add jobs during the upcoming quarter. Meanwhile, 8 percent predict layoffs. The net outlook of 15 percent trails Manpower’s nationwide forecast by 1 point.

Most industry sectors — including construction, manufacturing, transportation and utilities — look pretty steady, said Chris Layden, managing director of Experis, a division of Manpower. But about two-thirds of Wisconsin employers are still not adding jobs, Layden said.

“You know, employers are not doing a lot of anticipatory hiring,” he said. “They really are waiting for consistent demand for goods and services.”

Layden said the net employment outlook in the city of Milwaukee is one of the best in Wisconsin and a couple points ahead of the statewide percentage.

Manpower’s survey of United States employers nationwide finds 22 percent expect to add to their workforce, while 6 percent anticipate layoffs.

The survey’s seasonally adjusted net outlook for the next three months is slightly higher than it was for the current quarter.

Layden said his key advice for people hoping to be hired is to keep improving their skills.

“I think up-skilling is going to be increasingly important,” he said. “The adjacency and the kind of flexibility that people have, the portability of skill sets.”

Layden said all 13 industry sectors surveyed expect employment gains. By region of the country, the Northeast, South and West show the largest potential increases, with the Midwest remaining steady.