Report: U.S. Hiring to Stay on a Steady Course

Report: U.S. Hiring to Stay on a Steady Course


According to a recent CareerBuilder report, certain industries are expected to outperform the national average for hiring. The number of manufacturing employers planning to add full-time, permanent headcount increased three percentage points over the second quarter of last year and beat the national average for this year’s forecast by seven percentage points. Information technology, financial services, professional and business services and healthcare are also among industries projected to lead in job creation.

“While employment has not yet reached an ideal level, the U.S. is moving closer to the tipping point for substantial job growth,” said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. “The economy is expanding, the housing market is recovering, consumer confidence is up and companies are starting to tap into cash reserves to invest—these are all good signs. As these trends strengthen, we expect hiring to hold steady in the second quarter and gain ground in the back half of the year.”

A previous survey found that 27% of employers planned to hire full-time, permanent employees in the first quarter of 2014. The number of employers who actually hired full-time, permanent staff was 29 percent, up from 28% in the same period last year.

Eleven percent decreased headcount, down from 12% last year. Fifty-nine percent said there was no change in their number of full-time, permanent employees while 2 percent were unsure.

Looking ahead, 26% of employers plan to add full-time, permanent staff in the second quarter, on par with last year. Because employers historically have been more conservative in estimates, the number could see an increase at the end of the quarter.

Eight percent of employers expect to downsize staff, down from 9% last year. Sixty-one percent anticipate no change while 5% are undecided.

Check out the top five industries expected to surpass the national average for adding full-time, permanent staff in the second quarter :

  • Information Technology — 34% of hiring managers
  • Financial Services — 34%
  • Manufacturing — 33%
  • Health Care — 28%
  • Professional and Business Services — 28%

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