Outlook for job seekers better - but only just

The outlook is somewhat brighter for job seekers in the next three months, although employers' hiring intentions are still weaker than a year ago, according to a survey today.

Employers' intentions have improved slightly for the third quarter from the previous quarter, the Manpower quarterly survey of 868 employers indicated.

"Hiring intentions in New Zealand continues to be sluggish and all three regions have continued to fall in the last three months; however, there is some good news with the majority of employers - 69 per cent - indicating they will make no reductions to their current headcount," said Manpower NZ and Australia managing director Lincoln Crawley.

Twelve per cent of employers forecast staff growth for the third quarter, and 18 per cent expected a decline.

That compared with the previous quarter, in which 19 per cent of those surveyed expected an increase in staff, 19 per cent a decline and 60 per cent forecast no change.

A year ago, 23 per cent of employers expected to boost staff numbers, 11 per cent forecast a decrease and 63 per cent expected no change.

Wellington had the weakest outlook for hiring, although employers in Christchurch and Auckland were also negative.

Among the different industries, the transport and utilities sector was the most optimistic, while manufacturing employers were the most pessimistic about their hiring intentions.

Among the 34 countries surveyed by Manpower, employment prospects were best in India, Norway, Poland, Peru, Singapore and Taiwan.

Hiring intentions were weakest in Ireland, Spain, Greece, Romania, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

- NZPA