Hirings continue at steady pace in Toledo area

23 percent of employers plan to add from October through December

9/12/2017

Employers in the Toledo area expect to hire employees at a solid pace during the next three months, according to a new report released Monday by temporary employment service ManpowerGroup.

In its quarterly employment outlook survey, the Milwaukee-based firm said 23 percent of employers it surveyed in metro Toledo plan to add from October through December. That is down from 27 percent in the year's third quarter and 31 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

The number of firms planning to cut staff levels in the upcoming fourth quarter rose to 9 percent from just 2 percent in the third quarter estimates. In the fourth quarter a year ago 10 percent said they would cut jobs.

ManpowerGroup said the fourth quarter outlook for Ohio was more modest than that of metro Toledo.

Employers were less enthusiastic about hiring with survey finding that just 17 percent of employers statewide planned to add jobs, while 6 percent planned to decrease staff. That compared to the third quarter when 24 percent planned to add jobs and just 2 percent planned to cut jobs.

Nationally, 21 percent of those surveyed said they expected to add jobs while 6 percent expected to cut positions.

For the coming quarter, ManpowerGroup said the industries that appeared best positioned to add jobs were construction, durable goods manufacturing, nondurable goods manufacturing, transportation & utilities, wholesale & retail trade, education & health services, and leisure & hospitality.

Employers in the financial activities and professional business services sectors plan to reduce staffing levels, ManpowerGroup said. Hiring in information services, government, and other services is expected to remain unchanged.

Contact Jon Chavez at jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.