10:40am Wednesday 10th June 2009
By Alex Cameron
EMPLOYERS in the South-West report the most positive hiring intentions in the UK for the third quarter of 2009, according to figures released this week.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, one of the UK’s leading employment services firms, questions the hiring intentions of over 2,100 UK employers for the quarter ahead, July to September 2009.
The results reveal a cautiously optimistic labour market in the South-West with a net employment outlook of +2%.
This is two percentage points weaker both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year.
The South-West is the most positive of the 12 UK regions surveyed for the second consecutive quarter, and remains conservative - particularly in comparison to the national Net Employment Outlook of -6%.
The South-West benefits from having limited dependence on any specific industry sector, and as such has remained in positive hiring territory since Quarter 1 2002.
This is reflected in the survey results, which show that 8% of employers anticipate a reduction in staffing levels, compared to 14% who predict headcount growth during the upcoming three months. The summer months are expected to bring high volumes of tourists to the region, which will create new roles within the tourist industry.
Andrew Shellard, Manpower’s operations manager for the South-West, said: “Despite recent staff cutbacks made within the finance and business services sector in Bristol, the region as a whole continues to buck the national trend.
“As a business, we are experiencing increased demand for roles within the tourist industry - particularly in coastal areas such as Devon and Cornwall. Equally, a number of hotels and transport employers are reassessing their hiring intentions as summer approaches and visitor numbers begin to increase.”
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