Regina hiring outlook to cool in Q4

Regina-area employers anticipate a moderate hiring climate in the fourth quarter, according to the latest Manpower employment outlook survey.

“Survey data reveals that 10 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (October to December), while none anticipate cutbacks,” said Carman Gosselin of Manpower’s Regina office. Another 90 per cent of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels in the upcoming quarter.

“With seasonal variations removed from the data, Regina’s fourth quarter net employment outlook of nine per cent is a decrease of one percentage point, when compared to the previous quarterly outlook,” said Gosselin.

“It is also a 22-percentagepoint decrease from the outlook reported during the same time last year. Yet, the outlook still indicates a fair hiring pace for the upcoming months.”

Canadian employers expect a modest hiring climate for job seekers in the fourth quarter, with employers in the public sector reporting the strongest job prospects, the employment survey said.

The survey of over 1,900 employers across Canada reveals that 12 per cent plan to increase their staffing levels in the fourth quarter, while seven per cent anticipate cutbacks. Of the employers surveyed, 79 per cent expect their current staffing levels to remain unchanged and two per cent are unsure about their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.

With seasonal variations removed from the data, the net employment outlook of eight per cent is a twopercentage-point decrease compared to the previous quarter, and a threepercentage-point decrease compared to the outlook reported during the same time last year.

“We continue to see some positive signs from employers across the country,” said Byrne Luft, vice-president of operations for Manpower Canada. “However, the hiring climate is expected to be more modest in the fourth quarter, with the weakest net employment outlook we’ve seen since the second quarter of 2010.”

Both Quebec and Ontario job markets have stabilized after their recent provincial elections, but it has not yet translated to an uptick in the general mood, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses.

“We do expect to see growth in the public administration, transportation and public utilities, and financial, insurance and real estate sectors however, and energy exports continue to grow at a strong rate. This growth is expected to be strongest in Western Canada. Alberta is, once again, a strong driver of the Canadian economy.”