Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Stressed businessman via Shutterstock
manpower

Irish employers not feeling so positive now: survey

Only Spain and Italy record worse outlooks for extra jobs before the New Year.

IRISH EMPLOYERS ARE waiting on more solid signs of recovery in the local economy before deciding to put on more staff, a new jobs survey has revealed.

In a blow to the jobless hoping to find work before Christmas, the latest global employer survey from Manpower has revealed more Irish businesses plan to cut staff than hire extra workers before the New Year.

After two quarters of positive outlooks, the survey of 620 employers found only 5% planned to hire more staff – compared to 8% who expected their workforce to shrink. The balance expected no change.

The regional picture was strongest in Connaught, with a seasonally-adjusted growth outlook of 6%, followed by Dublin at 1%.

Ulster and Munster both recorded negative forecasts, while employers in the Leinster region were the most pessimistic – recording a negative outlook of 11%.

So confidence is down, but there are some good signs

ManpowerGroup operations director Krissie Davies said employers’ hiring confidence appeared to be weakening towards the end of the year, but there were still positive signs for jobs in sectors like manufacturing, electricity, gas and water, and pharmaceuticals.

There are certainly opportunities to be had within these industries over the next few months with recent job announcements from Itron and Zenith Technologies highlighting employer confidence,” she said.

Manpower chart Hiring intentions in Ireland by job sector. ManpowerGroup ManpowerGroup

Conflicting surveys

The latest survey is at odds with a recent, more-bullish poll of Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which found 30% of employers were planning to recruit more staff before the end of the year.

The survey, by the Small Firms Association (SFA), also revealed 7% of small businesses expected to cut staff and 63% forecast no change in their workforce.

The global picture

Ireland had the third-lowest employment outlook among the 42 surveyed nations, with only Spain and Italy recording worse forecast for jobs.

India topped the poll with forecast growth of 42%, followed by Taiwan and New Zealand. In Europe, Romania, Greece and Poland recorded the most positive outlooks.

The survey comes as the World Bank today warned of an impending global jobs crisis as an estimated 600 million new positions needed to be created before 2030 to keep pace with population growth.

READ: Jobless figures down, though they’re still doling it out

READ: Factory outputs up thanks to pills and drink. Seriously.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
11
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.