Media Release
Manpower, Level 22, Darling Park 2, 201 Sussex Street Sydney. NSW Australia 2000
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey
Under embargo until 0:01, 10th June 2008 Local Time
Western Australia’s hiring confidence declines to
lowest levels in three years.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today, indicates the
employment prospects for job seekers in Western Australia may well be softer than
they have been since 2005 as business leaders intend to hire less new staff.
The survey, which was part of a broader survey of 2,658 employers across Australia,
revealed that the majority of employers in Western Australia are intending to hold the
line on their staff levels for the next quarter. The levels of demand are considerably
lower than at any point over the past three years since the first quarter of 2005.
The West Australian employment market shows considerable softening in hiring
intention in the July – September quarter of 2008, with a Net Employment Outlook of
+24% compared to +43% in the last quarter, a decline of 19 percentage points.
According to Stephen Hinch, General Manager Marketing & Communications,
Manpower, Australia and New Zealand, “This considerable softening in intention to
hire new workers may not signal a slow down in net growth. The 19 point decline in
hiring intentions may well be indicating a decline in pent up demand that was created
by internal mobility together with supply shortages”.
“This softer but continuing demand must still be balanced against the tight labour
supply that exists across Australia as the skills shortage is creating real structural
changes to the workforce already. Business leaders must continue to rethink their
strategies not only to attract but more importantly to retain the right talent, as many
jobs are still being filled through the mobility of the labour market.” Hinch said.
“There is a general softening in hiring confidence in all states, including Western
Australia and Queensland, however we are now moving into a period where we have
increasing numbers of skilled workers to replace each year as they retire making it
much more important for us all to take a longer term approach”. Hinch noted.
-End-
For further information please contact
Stephen Hinch, Phone – 02 9263 8644, Mobile – 0488 495 270, shinch@manpower.com.au
The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on the 9th of September
2008.
NEWS 
