Gloomy hiring climate for Charlottetown

Manpower survey shows stagnation in P.E.I., slow growth nationally

Charlottetown area employers expect a gloomy hiring climate for the third quarter of 2017, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.

“Survey data reveals that seven per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (July to September), while seven per cent anticipate cutbacks,” stated Mindy Stoltz of Manpower’s Saint John, N.B. office.

Another 86 per cent of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels in the upcoming quarter.

“With seasonal variations removed from the data, Charlottetown’s third quarter net employment outlook of -13 per cent is a 24 percentage point decrease when compared to the previous quarterly outlook,” said Stoltz. “It is also a decrease of 26 percentage points from the outlook reported during the same time last year, indicating a dim hiring pace for the upcoming months.”

Canadian employers expect a modest hiring climate for job seekers in the third quarter of 2017, with employers in the public administration sector reporting the strongest job prospects, according to the survey.

“Nationally, the overall tone for the third quarter is one of cautious optimism,” said Darlene Minatel, vice-president, Manpower Canada operations and strategic accounts. “While the economy is still recovering from the effects of low oil prices, we’re seeing slow but steady job growth in many urban areas across the country, a positive sign for the months ahead.”

The survey of over 1,900 employers across Canada reveals that 17 per cent plan to increase their staffing levels in the third quarter of 2017, while four per cent anticipate cutbacks.

Of the employers surveyed, 78 per cent expect their current staffing levels to remain unchanged and one per cent are unsure about their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.