Optimistic Hiring Outlooks for Midwest Employers

Unemployment remains at about 4%, so it’s no wonder employers are reporting optimistic hiring trends for Q2 2018. According to the recently released ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, U.S. employer hiring confidence is staying strong.

The Q2 2018 Hiring Outlook reports that 1 in 5 employers plan to grow their workforce in the 3 months ahead. The seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook for Q2 2018 is +18%, according to the latest survey of more than 11,500 U.S. employers.
Organizations are planning to add staff across all 13 industry sectors in Q2 2018. Employers report the strongest hiring intentions in Leisure & Hospitality (+28%) as the economy picks up. Strong Outlooks for Professional & Business Services (+24%) and Wholesale & Retail Trade (+23%) point to demand-driven growth in line with increased wages.
Employers in Wholesale & Retail Trade report some of the most optimistic Outlooks in more than 16 years as online retail continues to grow and the increase in distribution workers is expected to rise. The weakest Outlooks are reported in Mining (+15%), Government Information (+14%), and Nondurable Goods Manufacturing (+12%).
“We’re seeing solid, demand-fueled growth across the U.S. as the economy continues to strengthen and the labor market tightens at pace,” said Becky Frankiewicz, president of ManpowerGroup North America—said in a press release. “The competition for skilled talent is set to heat up and a just-in-time approach isn’t always getting employers the skills they need when they need them. Now is the time to invest in people by upskilling America’s workers. We should also seek untapped talent sources with adjacent skillsets that can adapt to fill in-demand positions. …”
Key findings from this survey are highlighted below. For more information, or the complete results of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, click here.