Springs hiring plans brightening

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 14, 2002 | by The Gazette

Hiring plans by Colorado Springs employers are the most optimistic in more than a year, according to a quarterly survey released Monday.

Manpower Inc. said 47 percent of the 30 employers it surveyed locally plan to hire more workers during the July-September quarter while only 7 percent plan to reduce employment. Another 43 percent of employers plan no staffing changes while 3 percent were uncertain.

The latest survey contrasted with the 43 percent that planned to hire and the 3 percent planning job cuts during the current quarter. Manpower's third-quarter findings are the most bullish since the second quarter of 2001 when 60 percent planned hiring and 7 percent expected layoffs.

"Conditions might be getting better but at a slow pace," said Carmen Molitor, manager of Manpower's Colorado Springs office. "We were off to a good start during this quarter, but we have not improved beyond that. I had hoped for continued improvement."

The survey results are important because they come from employers who hired Manpower to handle temporary staffing needs. Employers tend to add or eliminate temporary jobs before hiring or laying off permanent employees.

Local job prospects are best in the retailing, finance, insurance and retail industries, though job prospects are improving in manufacturing.

Colorado Springs employers remain among the state's most optimistic; only in Mesa County did a greater percentage of employers plan hiring. Statewide, 38 percent of employers plan hiring in the next quarter while 8 percent plan cuts and 46 percent plan no changes.

Nationwide, just 27 percent of the 16,000 employers surveyed plan to add employees while 8 percent plan reductions and 59 percent plan no changes. That is still the greatest percentage of employers planning to hire in five quarters, the company said.

Manpower is among the nation's largest staffing firms, providing work-force management services to customers through 3,900 offices in 61 countries.

MAKING PLANS

Manpower Inc's survey of companies' hiring plans shows Colorado Springs is home to more optimism than employers nationwide:

Location Percent of employers Percent of employers planning to hire planning job cuts

Colorado Springs 47% 7% Statewide 38% 8% Nationwide 27% 8%