Red Deer job hunters will likely face a tough slog this year.
Local employers expect a slow hiring climate in the third quarter, with 78 per cent of companies expecting to freeze their payrolls, says the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.
“Survey data reveals that 10 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter, while 12 per cent anticipate cutbacks,” says Randy Upright, CEO of Manpower’s Alberta region.
When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the softness of the local labour market is apparent. The net employment outlook is down six per cent from last quarter, and down 11 per cent from the same period last year.
Nation-wide, the employment picture is brighter, with a positive hiring climate anticipated by employers.
A survey of 1,900 employers across the country found 19 per cent intend to boost staffing levels, and 77 per cent expected to hold firm on the staff they had. Only three per cent were expecting cutbacks.
“Following a moderately upward swing in job growth at the start of 2019, the market is expected to grow through the next quarter,” says Darlene Minatel, the company’s country manager.
Employers continue to struggle with a talent shortage and are increasingly turning their attention to hiring “teachable candidates,” she says.