2nd Quarter 2005

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey

United States

Manpower Inc., 5301 N. Ironwood Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217

Tel: 414 961 1000
www.us.manpower.com

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Contents
United States Employment Outlook 2
Regional Comparisons
Sector Comparisons

Global Employment Outlook 14

International Comparisons – Americas
International Comparisons – Asia Pacific
International Comparisons – Europe

About the Survey 20

About Manpower 21

1
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

The United States Employment Outlook

Nearly 16,000 interviews have been conducted with
employers across the United States to measure
anticipated employment trends between April and June
2005. All participants were asked, “How do you
anticipate total employment at your location to change
in the three months to the end of June 2005 as
compared to the current quarter?”
When seasonal variations are removed from the data,
the Net Employment Outlook is the same as it was for
the first three months of the year and is similar to last
year at this time. In fact, this marks the fifth consecutive
quarter in which employers have reported hiring
expectations that rival those last seen in the beginning
months of 2001.

Of the U.S. employers that were surveyed, 30% plan
to add staff in the second quarter, while 7% expect to
reduce their payrolls. Fifty-eight percent of the hiring
managers polled anticipate no change in staff levels
for the coming quarter, and 5% are unsure of their
hiring plans.
Throughout this report, we use the term “Net
Employment Outlook.” This figure is derived by taking
the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in
hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage
of employers that expect to see a decrease in
employment at their location in the next quarter.

Net Employment Seasonally

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know
Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
2nd Quarter 2005 30 7 58 5 23 21
1st Quarter 2005 24 10 59 7 14 21
4th Quarter 2004 28 7 60 5 21 20
3rd Quarter 2004 30 6 59 5 24 20
2nd Quarter 2004 28 6 62 4 22 20

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-5
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

The results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey in the United States include Puerto Rico.

2
According to the seasonally adjusted survey results,
employers in the majority of industry sectors polled plan
to keep hiring activity relatively consistent with the first
period of 2005. These sectors include Construction,
Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation/
Public Utilities, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate, Services
and Mining.
Education and Public Administration employers intend
to take on more staff in the second quarter, while those
in Durable Goods Manufacturing and Wholesale/Retail
Trade anticipate a slower hiring pace.
The employment outlook in seven of the 10 industry
sectors is brighter than it was a year ago, particularly
among Public Administration and Mining employers.
Employers in the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate,
Education, Durable Goods Manufacturing and
Transportation/Public Utilities sectors also envision
better year-over-year job prospects. Hiring in the Non-
Durable Goods Manufacturing and Services sectors is
expected to stay the same, while a decline in levels is
expected among Construction and Wholesale/Retail
Trade employers.

Net Employment Seasonally

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know
Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
Construction 41 5 49 5 36 24
Education 19 6 71 4 13 14
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 29 5 60 6 24 24
Manufacturing – Durables 33 8 54 5 25 21
Manufacturing – Non-Durables 28 7 59 6 21 19
Mining 31 3 65 1 28 27
Public Administration 28 6 60 6 22 17
Services 29 5 60 6 24 20
Transportation & Public Utilities 26 7 61 6 19 19
Wholesale & Retail Trade 29 8 57 6 21 21

At the overall national level, the margin of error on the data is +/– 0.8%.

Little change is in store for second quarter hiring activity
across the four U.S. regions, according to the seasonally
adjusted survey results. Employers plan to keep job
levels consistent with last quarter and a year ago. The
most significant variation in regional hiring is in the West
where employers plan to offer slightly stronger job
prospects than last year.
Job seekers are likely to find that the West offers the
most promising job picture for the April – June period.
For the fifth consecutive quarter, employers in the
Northeast intend to hire at a more conservative pace
than the other regions.

Net Employment Seasonally

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know
Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
Midwest 29 6 61 4 23 19
Northeast 26 8 60 6 18 17
South 31 6 57 6 25 22
West 32 7 54 7 25 23

3
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

Regional Comparisons
Midwest
Twenty-nine percent of employers polled in the Midwest
anticipate an increase in job opportunities, while 6%
foresee a decrease. This yields a Net Employment
Outlook of 23%. According to the seasonally adjusted
data, the hiring pace is likely to hold steady with
employer estimates identical to those reported last
quarter and a year ago.
Stability is also apparent when hiring intentions are
broken down by sector. Seven of the industries
surveyed expect little change in staffing plans compared
to last quarter, including Construction, Non-Durable
Goods Manufacturing, Transportation/Public Utilities,
Wholesale/Retail Trade, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate,
Services and Public Administration. Education
employers report a slightly more positive outlook than
the January to March period, while those in Mining and
Durable Goods Manufacturing foresee a mild decrease
in employment activity.

Net Employment Seasonally

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know
Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
All Industries 29 6 61 4 23 19
Construction 45 6 45 4 39 18
Education 12 6 79 3 6 7
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 26 4 68 2 22 22
Manufacturing – Durables 33 7 57 3 26 22
Manufacturing – Non-Durables 28 6 62 4 22 20
Mining 20 0 80 0 20 22
Public Administration 28 7 61 4 21 10
Services 28 5 64 3 23 19
Transportation & Public Utilities 25 7 63 5 18 17
Wholesale & Retail Trade 30 6 60 4 24 22

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-5
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

The Midwest Region comprises the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota, Wisconsin.

4
Northeast
In the Northeast, 26% of employers surveyed anticipate
an increase in payrolls for the second quarter of 2005,
while 8% plan to reduce staff levels. This translates to
a Net Employment Outlook of 18%. When seasonal
variations are removed from the data, the results show
that employers have expressed little variation in hiring
plans over the last year. In fact, second quarter hiring
intentions are exactly the same as they were for first
quarter and a year ago. The hiring pace in the
Northeast continues to lag the other regions, a trend
that began in the second quarter of 2004.
Job seekers in Transportation/Public Utilities, Education
and Mining are likely to have a more positive experience
than they did in the beginning months of the year. Hiring
is expected to remain unchanged in the Durable Goods
Manufacturing, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate and Public
Administration sectors, and is expected to decline in
the Construction, Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing,
Services and Wholesale/Retail Trade sectors.

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know Net Employment Seasonally

Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
All Industries 26 8 60 6 18 17
Construction 33 4 56 7 29 20
Education 21 5 71 3 16 18
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 29 4 59 8 25 23
Manufacturing – Durables 30 10 54 6 20 18
Manufacturing – Non-Durables 26 9 58 7 17 16
Mining 25 0 75 0 25 24
Public Administration 22 14 56 8 8 6
Services 24 6 64 6 18 15
Transportation & Public Utilities 23 6 65 6 17 18
Wholesale & Retail Trade 24 12 57 7 12 15

30

25

20

15

10

-5
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-10
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

The Northeast Region comprises the following states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont.

5
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

South
Of the employers surveyed in the South, 31% of
employers foresee an increase in employment activity,
and 6% expect a decline in their payrolls. The result is a
Net Employment Outlook of 25%. Seasonally adjusted
data reveals that employment prospects in the South
are among the strongest in the nation, just slightly
behind the West. As is the case across the four regions
surveyed, employer confidence in the South has
remained consistent for the last year.
Quarter over quarter, employers are mixed in their hiring
intentions.The largest increases are expected in Education
and Mining. In fact, Mining employers haven’t been this
optimistic about hiring since the early 1980s. Employers
are slightly more confident in Non-Durable Goods
Manufacturing and Finance/Insurance/Real Estate, while
those in Transportation/Public Utilities, Wholesale/Retail
Trade, Services and Public Administration report hiring
intentions consistent with last quarter. Construction and
Durable Goods Manufacturers are less likely to put up
help-wanted signs in the spring months than they were
earlier in the year.

Net Employment Seasonally

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know
Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
All Industries 31 6 57 6 25 22
Construction 40 6 49 5 34 25
Education 23 5 67 5 18 20
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 31 6 54 9 25 25
Manufacturing – Durables 35 9 50 6 26 22
Manufacturing – Non-Durables 29 6 59 6 23 21
Mining 35 4 61 0 31 31
Public Administration 26 3 64 7 23 19
Services 31 5 57 7 26 22
Transportation & Public Utilities 25 6 63 6 19 19
Wholesale & Retail Trade 31 7 56 6 24 24

30

25

20

15

10

0
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted

The South Region comprises the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.

6
West
In the West, 32% of employers surveyed plan to add
staff and 7% intend to reduce headcount, resulting in
a Net Employment Outlook of 25%. Employers in the
West report the strongest hiring pace among the four
regions surveyed, according to seasonally adjusted
data. Hiring plans are consistent with those reported
for the beginning months of 2005 and show mild
improvement from last year at this time.
The largest gains in employer confidence, compared to
first quarter, are seen in Construction and Public
Administration. In the Construction sector, this is only
the fourth time in survey history that employer optimism
has reached this level and the first time since the late
1970s. Staffing plans are expected to be relatively
consistent with last quarter in Transportation/Public
Utilities, Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing,
Wholesale/Retail Trade, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate
and Services. Job seekers may have a tougher time
finding employers that are hiring in Durable Goods
Manufacturing, Education and Mining.

Net Employment Seasonally

Increase Decrease No Change Don’t Know
Outlook Adjusted
% % % % % %
All Industries 32 7 54 7 25 23
Construction 45 2 47 6 43 31
Education 20 8 67 5 12 13
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 32 5 56 7 27 28
Manufacturing – Durables 32 9 51 8 23 20
Manufacturing – Non-Durables 30 9 54 7 21 18
Mining 20 0 73 7 20 20
Public Administration 35 5 53 7 30 27
Services 33 6 55 6 27 22
Transportation & Public Utilities 30 8 56 6 22 26
Wholesale & Retail Trade 30 9 54 7 21 21

35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-5
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

The West Region comprises the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

7
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

Sector Comparisons
Some variation in second quarter hiring plans is revealed
among the 10 industry sectors on a seasonally adjusted
basis. Mining employers express the most optimistic
hiring intentions again this quarter, as was the case in the
first period of 2005. A strong hiring pace is expected in
Construction, Finance/Insurance/Real Estate, Durable
Goods Manufacturing, Services and Wholesale/Retail
Trade. Education and Public Administration employers are
least optimistic about second quarter job prospects,
compared with other sectors.

Construction 36
24

Education 13
14
24
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
24
25
Manufacturing – Durables
21
21
Manufacturing – Non-Durables
19
28
Mining 27
22
Public Administration 17
24
Services 20
19
Transportation & Public Utilities 19
21
Wholesale & Retail Trade 21

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted

8
Construction
According to seasonally adjusted data, Construction is
expected to be a bright spot when it comes to hiring
during the second quarter. The employment outlook is
among the most positive of the 10 industry sectors
surveyed. Employer confidence levels are identical to
those reported last quarter and down slightly from a
year ago.
Job seekers in the West are most likely to find
employers in a hiring mode, only the second time in
13 quarters that the South has not held this distinction.
Those seeking employment in the Midwest will find the
fewest companies looking to increase headcount.

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15 Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-20
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Education
Employer confidence in the Education sector continues For the second quarter, employers in the South are most
to fluctuate. After two quarters of declines, employer confident about adding staff. Employers in the Midwest
optimism about hiring is up slightly from first quarter, anticipate slower hiring than the other three regions.
according to seasonally adjusted data. A more notable
increase in hiring estimates is evident in the year-over-
year comparison.

25
20
15
10
5
0
-5 Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-10
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

9
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

When seasonal variations are removed from the data, Employers in the West are most likely to add staff,
hiring activity in Finance/Insurance/Real Estate is a trend that dates back to the first quarter of 2004.
expected to be among the strongest of the 10 industry Hiring plans for the Midwest are more conservative.
sectors surveyed again this quarter. The employment
outlook is steady, with employers planning to hire at the
same pace as last quarter. Job prospects are more
positive than last year at this time.

25

20

15

10

0
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted

Manufacturing – Durable Goods

For the first time in more than a year, employer For the April – June period, hiring intentions are strongest
confidence in Durable Goods Manufacturing slipped, in the Midwest and South and weakest in the Northeast.
according to seasonally adjusted survey results. Hiring
plans are slightly less optimistic compared with first
quarter. However, employers do expect a minimal
improvement in staffing plans from last year at this time.

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5 Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-10
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

10
Manufacturing – Non-Durable Goods
Non-Durable Goods Manufacturers expect to hire at a Job prospects are most promising in the South, while
steady pace from April to June, according to seasonally the hiring pace is expected to be slower in the
adjusted data. Hiring plans are consistent with survey Northeast than in other areas.
results from last quarter and last year at this time.
In fact, there has been little variation in employer
confidence levels for the last year.

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted

Mining
Another quarter of healthy hiring is expected in Mining, Employers in the South are most optimistic about job
which posted the strongest employment outlook gains, and those in the West are considerably more
among the industries surveyed, according to seasonally reserved.
adjusted data. Hiring plans are similar to first quarter
expectations, which reached levels last seen in the early
1980s. The employment picture has improved
dramatically since last year at this time.

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted

11
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

Public Administration
When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the By a wide margin, employers in the West are most
hiring landscape in Public Administration is likely to continue optimistic about adding to their payrolls. Employers in the
to improve. Job seekers can anticipate more government Northeast foresee the slowest hiring pace in this sector.
hiring compared with last quarter. Employer confidence in
the Public Administration sector has grown more slowly
over the past year than in other sectors, but has made
steady progress in recent quarters. The second quarter job
forecast is considerably brighter than last year at this time.

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5 Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-10
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Services
The seasonally adjusted survey results suggest that As was the case in the first quarter survey, job
another quarter of steady hiring is in store for the seekers in the South and West are likely to have solid
Services sector. Hiring plans parallel those reported employment prospects, while those in the Northeast
last quarter and a year ago. In fact, employer are expected to find fewer companies adding to payroll.
confidence levels have not wavered since the second
quarter of 2004.

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted

12
Transportation & Public Utilities
When seasonal variations are removed from the data,
hiring intentions for the Transportation/Public Utilities
sector are relatively consistent with those reported over
the last year. Employers foresee a hiring pace that is
similar to last quarter, and up slightly from a year ago.
For the sixth consecutive quarter, the Transportation/
Public Utilities employment outlook is strongest in the
West. Employers in the Midwest are least optimistic
about staff increases.

25
20
15
10
5
0
Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-5
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Wholesale & Retail Trade

The story in Wholesale/Retail Trade remains the same
as it has been for the last year – steady hiring.
Employers are only slightly less optimistic about hiring
than they were last quarter and last year, according to
seasonally adjusted data.
The regional hiring outlook is unchanged from last
quarter. Employers in the South are most optimistic
about increasing staff levels, while those in the
Northeast have the most conservative hiring intentions.

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10 Net Employment Outlook Seasonally Adjusted
-15
’89 ’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

13
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

Global Employment Outlook

Over 40,000 employers have been interviewed across
21 countries and territories to measure anticipated
employment trends between April and June 2005.
Employers in 19 of 21 countries and territories expect
positive hiring activity in the coming quarter, and those
in 11 of 19 countries reported stronger hiring intentions
compared to last year at this time. This quarter marks
the first time that the survey has been conducted with
employers across China and Taiwan, and the results
indicate strong hiring activity is ahead for the second
quarter in both markets. Employers in Australia, Germany,
Japan, Mexico and Norway reported their most optimistic
outlooks to date, while the strongest second quarter
hiring intentions of the 21 countries and territories
surveyed were reported in Japan and Taiwan.
Net Employment Outlook
Americas Quarter 1 2005
% %
Canada 4 (19)1
Mexico 12
United States 14 (21)1
European hiring expectations have improved over
last quarter in the majority of the countries surveyed;
however, most outlooks are weaker compared to last
year. In Germany, hiring activity improved on both a
year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter basis, while
employers in the Netherlands reported their first
negative hiring expectations.
In the U.S., Canada and the UK, seasonally adjusted
results reveal positive hiring intentions, although
UK employers reported quarter-over-quarter and
year-over-year decreases in employment prospects.
Both U.S. and Canadian employers are anticipating
continued stable hiring activity.
Qtr on Qtr Change
Quarter 2 2005 Q1 2005 to Q2 2005
26 (18)1 22 (-1)1
22 10
23 (21)1 9 (0)1

Net Employment Outlook Qtr on Qtr Change

Asia Pacific Quarter 1 2005 Quarter 2 2005 Q1 2005 to Q2 2005
% %
Australia 17 21 4
China – 28 N/A
Hong Kong 26 19 -7
Japan 13 35 22
New Zealand 30 30 0
Singapore 8 12 4
Taiwan _ 35 N/A

Net Employment Outlook Qtr on Qtr Change

Europe Quarter 1 2005 Quarter 2 2005 Q1 2005 to Q2 2005
% %
Austria 1 2 1
Belgium 5 7 2
France 2 2 0
Germany -6 -1 5
Ireland 15 15 0
Italy -1 3 4
Netherlands 3 -2 -5
Norway 12 19 7
Spain 5 10 5
Sweden 5 9 4
UK 14 (18)1 15 (12)1 1 (-6)1
1. Number in parentheses is Net Employment Outlook when adjusted to remove the impact of seasonal variations in hiring activity for Canada, the UK
and the United States.
14
International Comparisons – Americas
Over 21,000 interviews have been conducted across
the United States, Canada and Mexico to measure
anticipated employment trends between April and
June 2005. The overall regional outlook is positive,
with employers in all three countries anticipating solid
hiring activity for the quarter ahead.
Employers in Mexico are reporting their most optimistic
outlook to date, posting considerable year-over-year
and quarter-over-quarter improvements. Based on
seasonally adjusted data, hiring activity in the United
States and Canada is expected to continue at the same
strong and stable pace seen over the last four quarters.

Canada Mexico
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

Line shows seasonally adjusted data.

USA
50

40

30

20

10

-10

-20
2003 2004 2005

Line shows seasonally adjusted data.

15
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

International Comparisons – Asia Pacific

Over 9,300 interviews have been conducted across
Asia Pacific to measure anticipated employment trends
between April and June 2005.
Hiring activity in Asia Pacific is expected to be robust
for the second quarter of the year. Employers in Taiwan,
Japan, New Zealand and China reported the most
positive hiring intentions of all of the countries surveyed
in Asia Pacific, and among the 21 countries and
territories surveyed internationally. Following this positive
trend, Australian employers reported their most optimistic
hiring intentions to date, while employers in both Hong
Kong and Singapore reported improved hiring intentions
compared to last year at this time.

Australia China
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

This country joined the survey in Q2 2005.

Hong Kong Japan

50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

16
New Zealand Singapore
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

This country joined the survey in Q2 2004. No bar indicates Net Employment Outlook of zero.

Taiwan
50

40

30

20

10

-10

-20
2003 2004 2005

This country joined the survey in Q2 2005.

17
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA

International Comparisons – Europe

Over 10,000 interviews have been conducted across
11 European nations to measure anticipated employment
trends between April and June 2005. Within the majority
of the labor markets surveyed, employers reported
improved hiring expectations compared to the previous
quarter. However, compared to last year, hiring intentions
were weaker in seven of 11 countries.
Irish and Norwegian employers anticipate the most
buoyant hiring activity for the second quarter, with
Norwegian employers reporting their most upbeat hiring
intentions since the survey began in the country.
Meanwhile, employers in the Netherlands reported their
first negative Net Employment Outlook. German
employers, although still anticipating negative hiring
activity for the quarter ahead, are the most optimistic
they have been, with the data revealing both quarter-
over-quarter and year-over-year improvements.
Employers in France reported stable hiring
expectations, while the seasonally adjusted figures for
the UK indicate a moderate decrease in hiring activity
from the previous quarter.

Austria Belgium
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

No bar indicates Net Employment Outlook of zero.

France Germany
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

18
Ireland Italy
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

No bar indicates Net Employment Outlook of zero.

Netherlands Norway
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

Spain Sweden
50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

-10 -10

-20 -20
2003 2004 2005 2003 2004 2005

UK
50

40

30

20

10

-10

-20
2003 2004 2005

Line shows seasonally adjusted data.

19
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey USA
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. The survey has been running for more than
40 years and is one of the most trusted surveys of employment
activity in the world. Various factors underpin the success of the
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey:
Unique: It is unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area
of focus.
Projective: The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is the
only forward-looking survey, asking employers to forecast
employment over the next quarter. In contrast, other surveys
and studies focus on retrospective data to report on what
occurred in the past.
Focused: For more than four decades, the survey has derived
all of its information from a single question.
Independent: The survey is conducted with a representative
sample of employers from throughout the countries in which it
is conducted. The survey participants are not derived from
Manpower’s customer base.
Robust: The survey is based on interviews with more than
40,000 public and private employers across 21 countries and
territories to measure anticipated employment trends each
quarter. This sample allows for analysis to be performed across
specific sectors and regions to provide more detailed information.
Methodology
The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted using
a validated methodology, in accordance with the highest
standards in market research. The research team for the 21
countries and territories where the survey is currently conducted
includes Manpower’s Market Intelligence team; the Organization
Research and Analysis Division of Right Management
Consultants – an independent operating division of Manpower
Inc.; NOP World and Grupo IDM. The survey has been
structured to be representative of each national economy. The
margin of error for all national, regional and global data is not
greater than +/- 4.0%.
In the United States, the national survey is conducted by
Manpower’s North American Market Intelligence Team and
includes 16,000 employers. With this number of interviews, the
margin of error for the United States survey is +/- 0.8%.
20
Survey Question
All employers participating in the survey worldwide are asked the
same question, “How do you anticipate total employment at your
location to change in the three months to the end of June 2005
as compared to the current quarter?”
Net Employment Outlook
Throughout this report, we use the term “Net Employment
Outlook”. This figure is derived by taking the percentage of
employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and
subtracting from this the percentage of employers that expect to
see a decrease in employment at their location in the next quarter.
The result of this calculation is the Net Employment Outlook.
Seasonal Adjustment
Seasonal adjustments have been applied to the data for
Canada, the United States and United Kingdom to provide
additional insight into the survey data. These adjustments make
it possible to review the data without the employment
fluctuations that normally occur at the same time each year, thus
providing a clearer picture of the data over time. Manpower
intends to add seasonal adjustments to the data for other
countries in the future, as more historical data is compiled.
History of the Survey
1962 1st generation of the Manpower Employment Outlook
Survey launched in the United States and Canada.
1966 Manpower’s UK operation launches the equivalent of the
United States survey, naming the report the Quarterly
Survey of Employment Prospects. The survey adopts the
same forward-looking research format as the United States
survey and is the first of its kind in Europe.
1976 2nd generation of Manpower’s Employment Outlook
Survey launched in the United States and Canada.
Research methodology is updated to evolve with
advancements in the field of market research.
2002 Manpower UK’s Quarterly Survey of Employment
Prospects is updated to adopt an enhanced research
methodology. Manpower’s operations in Mexico and
Ireland launch the survey in their respective countries.
2003 3rd generation of the Manpower Employment Outlook
Survey is launched, expanding the program to a total 18
countries and territories worldwide: Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore,
Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States.
2004 Manpower operations in New Zealand launch the
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
2005 Manpower operations in China and Taiwan launch the
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment
services industry, offering customers a continuum of services to
meet their needs throughout the employment and business cycle.
The company specializes in permanent, temporary and contract
recruitment; employee assessment; training; career transition;
organizational consulting services and professional financial
services. Manpower’s worldwide network of 4,300 offices in
67 countries and territories enables the company to meet the
needs of its 400,000 customers 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, enabling customers to
concentrate on their core business activities. In addition to the
Manpower brand, the company operates under the brand names
of Right Management Consultants, Jefferson Wells, Elan and
Brook Street. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at
www.manpower.com.

In the United States, Manpower offers businesses a range of

HR services, in addition to providing administrative, industrial
and contact center personnel. Under the Manpower
Professional brand, the company places contract professionals
on assignment in areas such as information technology,
scientific, finance, engineering and telecommunications. More
information about Manpower’s US operation can be found at
www.us.manpower.com.

21
 2nd Quarter 2005

Manpower Employment Outlook Survey

United States

Manpower Inc., 5301 N. Ironwood Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217

Tel: 414 961 1000
www.us.manpower.com

© 2005, Manpower Inc. All rights reserved.

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