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CZECH EMPLOYERS PREDICT SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS IN THIRD QUARTER 2009; JOB PROSPECTS STRONGEST IN THE WHOLESALE & RETAIL TRADE INDUSTRY SECTOR

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey shows signs of cautious optimism in the labor market

Manpower today releases results of the “Manpower Employment Outlook Survey” for the third quarter of 2009.

Hiring intentions among Czech Republic employers are slightly more optimistic than they were three months ago, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. After two consecutive quarters of negative hiring intentions, employers are reporting a soft Net Employment Outlook of +1 %. Employers from five of 10 industry sectors and the Bohemia region, report stronger hiring intentions when compared to 2Q 2009. According to the survey data, the strongest opportunities for job seekers in the next three months will be in the Wholesale & Retail Trade industry sector (+8%), where 10 percent of employers expect to add to their payrolls.

According to Jaroslava Rezlerová, Managing Director of Manpower Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, "The slight improvement in the Net Employment Outlook reveals cautiously optimistic expectations among most Czech employers. Nevertheless employers in the key Manufacturing industry sector expect further lay-offs. In fact, we are seeing a continued weaker appetite for employees in the Manufacturing industry sector across Europe.”

Regional comparisons

Hiring prospects are subdued in all three regions. While employers in Bohemia report some cautious plans for headcount growth, with a Net Employment Outlook of +3 %, employers in Prague and Moravia make more muted forecasts, with Outlooks of -3 % and -2 %, respectively.

Employers in Bohemia (+3 %) report the country’s strongest regional forecast: the Outlook improves 5 percentage points quarter-over-quarter and 1 percentage point year-over-year.

Employers in Prague (-3 %) report the country’s least optimistic hiring intentions with the Outlook declining by 5 and 6 percentage points quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year, respectively.

Industry sector comparisons reveal that employers in five of 10 industry sectors reported some positive hiring activity for the next three months. Employers in the Wholesale & Retail Trade (+8 %) industry sector report the most optimistic hiring plans, with an Outlook that improves by a considerable 12 percentage points from 2Q 2009 and by 3 percentage points year-over-year. Employers in the Manufacturing (-7 %) industry sector report the weakest hiring plans for the quarter, where the Outlook is 1 percentage point stronger than 2Q 2009, but 6 percentage points weaker than in 3Q 2008.

Global overview

Employers in 11 of the 34 countries and territories Manpower surveyed expect to add to their workforces in Quarter 3 2009. However, where year-over-year comparisons can be made, hiring expectations are decidedly weaker in all countries and territories surveyed compared to 12 months ago. Notably, employers in 17 countries and territories are reporting the weakest hiring plans since the surveys were established there by Manpower. However, the global results do indicate some stability in the quarter ahead, with a greater percentage of employers in the majority of countries and territories saying they will hold on to the employees they have in the next three months.

The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey results will be published on 8th September 2009.

www.manpower.cz