Employers standing pat on hiring, Manpower says

Canadian employers expect the hiring climate to remain "respectable" in the fourth quarter, according to the latest Manpower Inc. employment survey.

In a survey of nearly 1,900 employers, 16 per cent told the employment agency they plan to add jobs in the quarter and seven per cent anticipate cutbacks.

Of those surveyed, 75 per cent of employers expect to maintain current staffing levels while two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions for the quarter.

Manpower Inc. says on a regional basis, employers in Western Canada expect a strong hiring climate in the quarter partly due to the construction and mining sectors.

In Quebec and Atlantic Canada, says Manpower, employers anticipate an upbeat hiring climate for the upcoming quarter.

Employers in Ontario, however, project a modest fourth quarter.