The new year is a good time to start job hunting
Florida’s job market is expected to be among the strongest in the nation during January to March, according to a quarterly survey by global staffing firm ManpowerGroup released Tuesday.
“Florida’s employment outlook is the 5th best in the country,” said Tom Shea, president of Fort Lauderdale-based outplacement firm Right Management Florida/Caribbean, which is part of ManpowerGroup.
And South Florida continues to be “a healthy job market,” he added. For employed workers who think they might lose their job, the current job market is “a good time to be looking around,” he said.
In the tricounty region, 26 percent of employers say they plan to hire new workers in January through March. That compares with 19 percent a year ago, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
Of the 50 states, only Delaware, Idaho, Hawaii and New Hampshire have stronger outlooks than Florida for the first quarter, according to Manpower’s survey.
Statewide, 29 percent of employers said they’d hire in the quarter, an increase from 22 percent a year ago.
Demand for workers in the state reflects the lowest unemployment in a decade and more companies adding jobs as they expand opera-
tions in a healthier economy. Hiring plans are at a 12-year high across the U.S., Manpower says.
Meanwhile, 4 percent of South Florida employers say they’ll reduce payrolls in the quarter while 66 percent expect to maintain staffing levels. Four percent said they were uncertain of hiring plans.
Statewide, 3 percent of employers say they plan to reduce payrolls, while 68 percent expect to maintain staffing levels.
“If you’re going to lose your job, this is a healthy time to lose your job. This is as full employment as it gets,” said Shea, citing the unemployment rate of under 3 percent in Broward County. Palm Beach County’s is at 3.1 percent and Miami-Dade’s 3.6 percent in October; November rates are due out Dec. 21.
Where are the South Florida?
The best prospects for being hired in the region are in construction; durable goods manufacturing; transportation and utilities; wholesale and retail trade; information; financial activities; professional and business services; education and health services; jobs in leisure and hospitality; other services; and government, Manpower said.
More than 12,500 employers across the U.S. were surveyed for the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.