U.S. employers are proceeding with caution when considering hiring in the first quarter of 2009, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
Of 31,800 employers surveyed, about 16 percent anticipate an increase in their staff levels during the first quarter of 2009, while 13 percent expect a reduction in their payrolls, according to the survey.
About 67 percent expect no change, and about 5 percent are undecided.
“The large number of employers that plan to sit on the sidelines in terms of hiring suggests that while they may not be adding a lot of workers, they recognize that having available talent is critical to business success,” Jonas Prising, president of Manpower North America, said in a statement.
