Hiring climate for manufacturing remains favourable: Survey

Canadian employers expect the manufacturing hiring climate to remain favourable for the first quarter of 2013, particularly in the durable goods sector, according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

With seasonal variations removed from the data, the net employment outlook of 13 per cent is a slight increase when compared to the Outlook reported in the previous quarter. This outlook is also a one percentage point drop from the Outlook reported during the same time last year. However, results for the first quarter do represent a continued trend of steady hiring patterns seen over the course of the last year.

The survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 13 per cent of them plan to increase their payrolls in the first quarter of 2013, while seven per cent anticipate cutbacks. Of those surveyed, 78 per cent of employers expect to maintain their current staffing levels while two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.

“Job seekers in all regions except Quebec are likely to benefit from a hopeful hiring climate from January through March, with employers in Western Canada and the Maritimes reporting the most positive Outlook,” said Byrne Luft, vice president of operations, for Manpower Canada, in a statement. “With regional Outlooks experiencing slight increases compared to the previous quarter, job seekers should maintain confidence in the labour market as employers throughout Canada anticipate the hiring pace will remain steady through the winter. Most of the new jobs created in Canada this year have been full-time positions. This continuation of the trend toward full-time employment is an encouraging sign.”

The net employment outlook for employers in the Manufacturing – Durables sector remains at a favourable 12 per cent. This outlook remains unchanged when compared to the prior quarter’s forecast but it is a five percentage point decrease when compared to the Outlook reported in the same quarter last year.

In the Manufacturing – Non-Durables industry sector, employers report a Net Employment Outlook of six per cent indicating a mild hiring climate for the first quarter of 2013. Employer hiring intentions are relatively stable when compared to the previous quarter, when employers reported an outlook of five per cent. However, it is a seven percentage point drop from the outlook reported during the same time last year.

“Regionally, employers in Western Canada and the Maritimes anticipate the most upbeat hiring climate for the upcoming quarter,” added Luft. “The data indicates employers expect a positive environment for job seekers, with employers in both regions reporting net employment outlooks of 15 per cent. Employers in Ontario project a respectable first quarter, with a net employment outlook of 10 per cent. Meanwhile, Quebec employers anticipate a mild hiring climate for the upcoming quarter, reporting a net employment outlook of seven per cent.”