The
UK’s employers are anticipating a 10-year low in job prospects during the final
quarter of this year, according to a major new survey of 2,500 organisations.
The
Global Manpower Employment Outlook Survey by Manpower shows the net employment
outlook (the balance of employers forecasting to take on more staff) for the UK
in quarter four is plus 12 per cent – the lowest figure recorded since 1993.
It
is significantly lower than last year’s positive balance for the final quarter
of plus 14 per cent.
The
study reveals that the hotel and retail sector is predicting a particularly
poor final quarter, reporting their lowest final quarter hiring intentions for
the past 12 years.
The
results for the manufacturing sector are also noticeably depressed. The sector
has an employment outlook of plus 7 per cent – which means the sector is 5 per
cent points below the fourth quarter average for the last 12 years (plus 12 per
cent) and is the third-lowest fourth quarter result in 10 years.
Hazel
Detsiny, a director at Manpower, was surprised by the pessimism over jobs.
“Quarter
four prospects are usually extremely buoyant due to increased hiring activity,
which takes place over the Christmas period to help meet consumer demand,” she
said.
