Survey: 3 In 10 Wisconsin Businesses Plan To Hire In Next 3 Months

A jobs forecast for Wisconsin shows a more active hiring pace than for the nation as a whole.

The Milwaukee-based temporary services firm Manpower Group said its quarterly survey shows 29 percent of Wisconsin employers expect to add jobs during the next three months. Six percent anticipate layoffs. That’s a slightly better net outlook than for the U.S.

Manpower’s Chris Layden said it good news for job seekers in the state.

“As the competition for talent heats up, the way in which companies engage individuals is more critical than ever,” he said.

However, Layden acknowledged that nearly two-thirds of Wisconsin employers plan no changes in staffing levels. He calls that a stable picture but also said many employers remain cautious about adding workers.

Manpower Group’s national hiring survey of 11,000 employers showed about 1 in 4 expect to add jobs, five percent predict layoffs, and the rest are anticipating no change.

“As you look across the country, there are certainly pockets that are performing better. But we’re continuing to see a steady rise but not robust hiring,” Layden said.

The hiring forecast indicatesthat, nationwide, 12 of 13 industry sectors forecast job gains with only the mining industry expecting job reductions.