STRICT EMBARGO FOR 13 December 2005.
GRAPHS REGISTER AT
FOR EMBARGOED GLOBAL REPORTS AND
www.manpower.com
MANPOWER MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Manpower Press Office, (65) 6877 8822
Employers in The Lion City Reveal Encouraging Signs for Hiring Ahead
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Q1 2006
13 December 2005
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today indicates moderate but encouraging
hiring momentum among Singapore’s employers during the first quarter of 2006.
Positive hiring
intentions are revealed in all of the industry sectors and out of 641 employers interviewed, 12%
forecast to recruit more people, while 3% expect decreases in their workforces in the next three
months. With 77% of employers reporting no change in staffing level, the Net Employment Outlook is
+9%.
Iain Herbertson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director Manpower Asia Pacific and
spokesperson for Manpower comments, “Employers continue to remain confident about the business
climate in Singapore, and there is a slight increase in the Outlook of one percentage point as
compared to the first quarter of 2005. Overall, we are seeing positive employment prospects for the
first three months of the new year.”
Employers in seven of the eight industry sectors surveyed intend to reduce their payrolls for the
quarter ahead when compared to three months ago. Employers from the Finance, Insurance & Real
Estate industry sector reveal the most optimistic hiring plans (at +13%) and report a positive yearover-year increase of 10 percentage points. Employment prospects in the Manufacturing sector are
the most modest (at +3%) while Wholesale & Retail Trade sector employers reported the strongest
quarter-over-quarter Net Employment Outlook improvement of 8 percentage points.
“The quarter-over-quarter reduction in hiring plans by employers in the majority of industry sectors is
mostly attributed to seasonal factors. We experience a quiet period around Lunar New Year with
many businesses closing and allowing their workers to take leave and celebrate this festive family
time away from the work environment.” added Mr Herbertson.
He elaborated further, “We have also noticed that in anticipation of the festivities, retail employers are
expressing stronger business sentiments for the next quarter.
Similarly, dealers of electronic
components, telecommunications equipment and cosmetics are upbeat about the business outlook
ahead.
Meanwhile, the global growth of the hedge funds industry bodes well for recruitment in the financial
sector and as the Asian labor markets continue to expand, job prospects in the asset management
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sector in Singapore are poised for strong growth. The search for the right talent will only continue to
intensify.”
The quarterly report from Manpower Inc. (NYSE:MAN) is the most extensive, forward-looking
employment survey in the world. Over 45,000 employers have been interviewed across 23 countries
and territories to measure anticipated employment trends between January and March 2006.
Nearly 13,000 interviews were surveyed by Manpower in Asia Pacific and employment prospects are
positive in all countries. Notably, employers in Australia and Japan reported their most positive first
quarter Net Employment Outlooks since the survey began in their region in Q3 2003.
Indian employers once again reported the most optimistic hiring expectations in Asia Pacific and
among the other 22 countries and territories surveyed internationally. While employers in the U.S,
Canada and UK reveal continued buoyant hiring activity, 11 of 23 were weaker compared to last year
at this time and most of the lower outlooks are from European employers.
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
¹A ‘Net Employment Outlook’ is calculated by subtracting those employers who plan to reduce staffing levels from those who
plan to hire staff. A positive result indicates that more employers plan to increase rather than decrease staffing levels; a
negative result reflects the opposite.
Commentary and full details on every sector and region can be found in the survey report at www.manpower.com or by calling
the Manpower Singapore Office Tel: (+65) 6877 8822
For international comparisons and visual library with graphs, visit www.manpower.com.
About the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease
the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. The survey has been running for more than 40 years and is
one of the most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. Various factors underpin the success of the Manpower
Employment Outlook Survey:
Unique: It is unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus.
Projective: The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the
world, asking employers to forecast employment over the next quarter. In contrast, other surveys and studies focus on
retrospective data to report on what occurred in the past.
Focused: For more than four decades, the survey has derived all of its information from a single question.
Independent: The survey is conducted with a representative sample of employers from throughout the countries in which it is
conducted. The survey participants are not derived from Manpower’s customer base.
Robust: The survey is based on interviews with more than 45,000 public and private employers across 23 countries and
territories to measure anticipated employment trends each quarter. This sample allows for analysis to be performed across
specific sectors and regions to provide more detailed information.
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry, offering customers a continuum of services
to meet their needs throughout the employment and business cycle. The company specializes in permanent, temporary and
contract recruitment; employee assessment; training; career transition; organizational consulting services and professional
financial services. Manpower’s worldwide network of 4,300 offices in 72 countries and territories enables the company to meet
the needs of its 400,000 customers per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the
world’s largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower’s work is on raising productivity through improved quality,
efficiency and cost-reduction, enabling customers to concentrate on their core business activities. In addition to the Manpower
brand, the company operates under the brand names of Right Management Consultants, Jefferson Wells and Elan. More
information on Manpower Inc. is available at www.manpower.com.
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