Red Deer area employers expect a positive hiring climate for the first quarter of 2017, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.
“Survey data reveals that 22 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (January to March), while five per cent anticipate cutbacks,” stated Randy Upright, CEO of Manpower’s Alberta Region.
Another 71% of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels in the upcoming quarter, while the remaining two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions.
“With seasonal variations removed from the data, Red Deer’s first quarter Net Employment Outlook of 17 per cent is a 17 percentage point increase when compared to the previous quarterly Outlook,” said Upright. “It is also an increase of 19 percentage points from the Outlook reported during the same time last year, indicating a favourable hiring pace for the upcoming months.”
“Nationally, the hiring climate is expected to be steady heading into the first quarter of 2017, led by a strong public administration sector and gains in manufacturing,” said Darlene Minatel, vice president, Manpower Canada Operations & Strategic Accounts. “While there are still some areas of concern, oil prices are recovering from their recent lows, the continued weakness in the Canadian dollar is a boon for exports, and Alberta is beginning to rebound after the damage caused by the Fort McMurray wildfires. Job seekers have reason to be optimistic in the quarter to come.”
– Fawcett
