Taipei, Taiwan (9 June 2009)
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today reveals that while opportunities for job seekers remain uncertain in much of the world, Taiwan employers are forecasting stronger hiring plans in the third quarter of 2009. After 2 quarters negative employment expectations, Taiwan's employers are expressing cautious optimism and reporting positive hiring intentions. However, employers in all of the world's major labor markets say they will add fewer employees to their payrolls compared to one year ago.
"The current financial tsunami has impacts on the job prospects. Nevertheless, the government's policy to revitalize the country's slowing economy is likely to stimulate domestic consumption and growth, and increase employment. The vast majority of employers are telling us that they will take a 'wait and see' approach before hiring or further reducing staff. Thus, we are not anticipating any major fluctuations in the labor market in the quarter ahead. We believe hiring intentions will rebound in the near future,” said Terence Liu, General Manager of Manpower Inc. in Taiwan.
"The global business downturn and decrease in exports make Taiwan's employers more cautious about adding employees. However, people who possess senior management skills needed by companies are still in high demand. Under such circumstances, companies could utilize a more flexible workforce such as temporary staffing and part-time labor to manage employment costs and hiring risks, enhancing the ability to resist external changes,” commented Terence.
Of the 1,091 employers interviewed in Taiwan this quarter, 20 percent anticipate increasing their workforces, while eight percent expect to reduce their payrolls; 69 percent say they plan no changes in staff numbers. This quarterly survey of employer hiring intentions shows a positive Net Employment Outlook of +10%. When the Net Employment Outlook is adjusted for seasonal variations, it stands at +5%, which is a 15 percentage point improvement when compared to last quarter (Q2 2009) and an 16 percentage point decline when compared to the same time last year (Q3 2009).
Employers in the Transportation & Utilities sector are reporting the most optimistic hiring intentions (+19%) for this quarter – propelled by the special project to increase the number of tourists from Mainland China. Conversely, employers in the Mining & Construction sector report the weakest hiring intentions for this quarter, with Net Employment Outlooks of +1%.
Employers in 11 of 34 countries and territories surveyed expect some positive hiring activity in the coming quarter, but those in 22 are forecasting negative outlooks with 17 reporting their weakest hiring plans since the survey was established. While employers in all countries and territories are reporting weaker year-over-year forecasts, outlooks have improved from three months ago in 12 countries. Although weaker than historical patterns, third-quarter hiring plans are strongest in India, Norway, Poland, Peru, Singapore and Taiwan and weakest in Ireland, Spain, Greece, Romania, Italy, Japan and the U.K.
Across the eight countries and territories surveyed in the Asia Pacific region, employment prospects remain soft, with employers in India, China and Japan reporting their weakest hiring plans since the surveys were established in these countries. Despite the weak forecast for the Indian market, employers there remain the most optimistic in the region. On the other hand, compared to three months ago outlooks for half of the countries and territories have improved, most notably in Singapore as well as Taiwan.
Of the 18 countries surveyed in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, only employers in Norway, Poland, Switzerland, South Africa and the Czech Republic are reporting positive, but modest, third-quarter hiring activity. As was the case in the previous quarter, in countries where year-over-year comparisons can be made, all outlooks are weaker. Job prospects in the region are strongest in Norway and Poland and weakest in Ireland and Spain. Hungarian employers are surveyed for the first time this quarter and, like the majority of their counterparts in the region, are reporting negative hiring expectations.
Across the eight countries surveyed in the Americas region, hiring expectations are weaker compared to three months ago in five countries. However, compared to one year ago, hiring plans are weaker across all of the Americas countries Manpower surveys.
The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on 8 September 2009 to report hiring expectations for the forth quarter of 2009. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is available free of charge to the public through their local Manpower representative in participating countries. To receive e-mail notification when the survey is available each quarter, interested individuals are invited to complete an online subscription form at: http://investor.manpower.com/investors/alerts.cfm.
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