Public sector hiring intentions continue to ease

- Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Q2 2006

Hiring intentions in the public sector are to dip for the second consecutive quarter of 2006, and they also fall short of the national average, according to Manpower, the UKís leading employment services company.

Manpowerís Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS), a forward looking quarterly report into hiring intentions, shows that the balance of public sector employers looking to take on more staff for the second quarter of the year is 9%. This is four percentage points below the average national outlook across all sectors, but despite the drop, public sector recruitment outlook is cautiously optimistic.

Helen McNamara, Head of Public Sector Business at Manpower, comments: ìThe drop in hiring intentions is largely due to two factors: streamlining and budgetary constraints, both of which are associated with the continued implementation of the Gershwin efficiency targets. The most notable fall has been in central government recruitment in London where some staff assignments have not been renewed when examined at the end of the financial year.î

The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey results provide a forecast of employer hiring intentions for the current quarter: April - June 2006. 2,100 UK employers were surveyed in the UK and over 47,000 employers in 24 countries globally.

Helen continues: ìThe overall easing in recruitment intentions shouldnít come as a surprise given current government relocation plans. Whilst some central government activity is relocated outside London there should be a positive impact on regional recruitment, however it is too early to say the precise impact this will have.î