Latest Manpower report cites utilities among bright spots for jobs in 2013

Job seekers surround Tim Taylor of Manpower Inc. of Toledo at a job fair at Seagate Convention Centre this fall. Manpower's hiring outlook for 2013 is similar to this year's.

Hiring in metro Toledo will increase at a mild pace after Jan. 1 compared to a year ago, but it will be slightly slower than it is currently, according to a new employment report by temporary staffing firm ManpowerGroup Inc.

In its new forecast, released today, ManpowerGroup said its quarterly Employment Outlook Survey of employers in the Toledo area showed that 15 percent planned to increase their staffing levels from January through March, an increase of 2 percentage points over the first quarter of 2011.

The survey showed 13 percent planned to decrease their staffing levels in the first quarter, and 67 percent planned to maintain their staffing levels. A year ago, 10 percent indicated they planned to decrease staffing and 70 percent said they would maintain their staffing levels.

In the current fourth quarter, ManpowerGroup said, 16 percent of Toledo area employers are in a hiring mode, just 6 percent are decreasing staffing, and 76 percent are maintaining their work-force levels.

ManpowerGroup said that in the first quarter of 2013, the best job prospects in the Toledo area appear to be in transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, financial activities, professional and business services, education and health services, and other services. Employers in construction, nondurable goods manufacturing, and government plan to reduce staffing levels.

For its report, ManpowerGroup surveyed more than 18,000 employers across the United States. Its report did not indicate how many metro Toledo employers were surveyed.

In Ohio, according to the survey, hiring will remain at a steady pace in the first quarter with 16 percent of employers increasing their staffing levels, 10 percent decreasing, and 72 percent maintaining staffing.

A year ago, 13 percent were hiring, 10 percent were decreasing their work force levels, and 72 percent were maintaining staffing. Five percent said they didn't know what their plans would be.

ManpowerGroup said that in the current quarter in Ohio 15 percent are hiring, 8 percent are decreasing, and 75 percent of employers are maintaining staffing.

ManpowerGroup said that its survey was conducted before Hurricane Sandy in late October, so the superstorm’s impact might have changed the hiring plans of some employers.

But nationally, the staffing firm said, the survey results showed optimism among employers, with 2013 expected to be the strongest first quarter for hiring since 2008.

ManpowerGroup said that, nationally, 17 percent of employers expected to be hiring in the first quarter, with just 8 percent decreasing their payrolls and 72 percent making no changes in their staffing levels.

"The Outlook has shown no setbacks over the last 15 quarters, which reflects an ongoing state of rebuilding as employers learn to function within a state of volatility," said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup president. "Over the past few years, we have seen continued incremental growth in hiring projections, which reinforces this job growth is slow but sustained."

The national survey forecasts that the best job growth will be in wholesale and retail trade, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and information. The worst job growth will be in construction, transportation and utilities, and in nondurable and durable goods manufacturing.

The best states for job growth will be North Dakota, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Delaware, Nebraska, and Texas; the worst states, Maine, Kansas, West Virginia, Missouri, Oregon, and Nevada. The top metro area for jobs will be Fort Myers, Fla., and the worst will be St. Louis. Youngstown was listed among the seven worst cities for job growth in the first quarter.

Contact Jon Chavez at: jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.