ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE: MAN) reported robust hiring optimism ahead globally for the second quarter. Of the 41,000 employers globally that participated in the “Employment Outlook Survey,” released today, 46% plan to hire workers in the second quarter. Sixteen percent plan to let staff go, for a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook of 29%.
“Labor markets around the world are looking strong for Q2, with hiring outlooks back at pre-pandemic levels in most countries,” ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jonas Prising said.
“Any impact of the Ukraine crisis is not reflected in employer hiring intentions,” Prising said; data for the report was collected in January prior to the Ukraine invasion. “While Poland and neighboring countries are dealing with the humanitarian crisis, we must be poised to help resettlement and employment efforts for refugees, adapting roles and requirements to fill vacancies and create new opportunities.”
The strongest hiring plans for the second quarter were in Brazil, India, Mexico and Sweden. The net employment outlook was 40% in Brazil and 38% in India, Mexico and Sweden.
Employers in North America posted the most positive regional outlook at 38%.
Looking at the US alone, 49% of the 6,000 employers surveyed plan to hire workers in the second quarter. Fourteen percent plan to let staff go, for a net employment outlook of 35%. However, the US net employment outlook is down six percentage points from the first quarter.
Canadian employers registered a net employment outlook of 37%, up two percentage points from the previous quarter’s report.