Media Release
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey
Under embargo until 00:01, 9 (GMT) June 2009
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey indicates a
subdued Victorian labour market in the July – September
quarter
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today, reveals hiring decision
makers in Victorian forecast a softening labour market in Quarter 3 2009, with a Net
Employment Outlook of -1%.
The survey which was part of a broader survey of 2,806 employers across Australia
revealed the weakest Outlook for the region since the survey began in Quarter 3
2003. Quarter-over-quarter there is a slight one percentage point decrease in the
Outlook, while there is a steep 23 percentage point decline year-over-year.
Victoria’s Outlook of -1% in the July – September quarter is the weakest since the
survey in Australia began in 2003.
“The employment market in Victoria is moderate with the current economic situation
is seeing the hiring intentions of employers still very cautious, however, it is
comforting to know that form a national perspective, 71% of these employers
anticipate no change in headcount. Despite the state of the current economy,
Australia is still faced with an ageing population, with baby boomers set to retire, and
skilled workers need to be replaced making it much more important for us all to
employ a longer term approach,” said Lincoln Crawley, Managing Director,
Manpower Australia and New Zealand.
“The modest improvement in hiring plans could be attributed to the recent interest rate
cuts, combined with the Australian government’s stimulus package directed at high-
spending groups such as pensioners and first-time home buyers, this should limit any
additional rise in the jobless rate,” said Crawley. ”However, the pace of hiring in all
sectors is expected to be weaker than historical patterns. Job seekers in the
Transportation and Utilities sector will continue to be frustrated as the Outlook is the
weakest since the survey began in 2003.”
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For further information and to arrange an interview please contact:
Vern Narayan, Marketing Manager, Manpower Australia & New Zealand
Phone – 02 9263 8570, Mobile – 0427 254 416, E: vnarayan@manpower.com.au
Or
Aily Lamb, EA to Managing Director, Manpower Australia & New Zealand
Phone – 07 3407 3114, E: alamb@manpower.com.au
Download a copy of the Australian Manpower Employment Outlook Survey at
Manpower Fact Sheet
Note to Editors
Commentary is based on seasonally adjusted data where available. Full survey results for each
of the 34 countries and territories included in this quarter’s survey, plus regional and global
addition, all tables and graphs from the full report are available to be downloaded for use in
About the Survey
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers’
intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next
quarter. It is the most extensive forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in its size,
scope, longevity and area of focus. The Survey has been running for more than 45 years and
is one of the most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. The Manpower
Employment Outlook Survey is based on interviews with over 70,000 public and private
employers worldwide and is considered a highly respected economic indicator.
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is currently available for 34 countries and
territories: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania,
Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the
United States. The program began in the United States and Canada in 1962, and the United
Kingdom was added in 1966. Mexico and Ireland launched the survey in 2002, and 13
additional countries were added to the program in 2003. New Zealand joined the program in
2004, China, India, Switzerland and Taiwan were added in 2005, and Argentina, Peru, Costa
Rica and South Africa joined in 2006. Colombia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Guatemala,
Poland and Romania joined in 2008, and Hungary joined the survey in 2009. For more
information, visit the Manpower Inc. Web site at www.manpower.com and enter the Research
Centre, or contact Bruce Bock, Sr. Global Communications Manager at
bruce.bock@manpower.com
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating
and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. Celebrating
its 60th anniversary in 2008, the $22 billion company offers employers a range of services for
the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract
recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and
consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,200 offices in 82 countries and territories
enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and
medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational
corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality,
efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on
their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower,
Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information on
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