Employers across the economy have strong intentions to hire in the third quarter, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The latest report shows that its Net Employment Outlook for July to September grew by 9% - the strongest it has been since the middle of 2007. That figure is based on a survey of 620 Irish companies, who are asked what their hiring intentions are for the months ahead.
"The net employment outlook is calculated by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase [in employees] and subtracting from that the percentage of employers anticipating a decrease in hiring intention," explained Cara O'Leary, sales director at Manpower Group. "This figure is then adjusted to account for any seasonal variations in recruitment patterns that we've seen since 2002."
The outlook is also based on hiring intention - rather than definite job creation - though Ms O'Leary says that the trend from previous surveys means that the figures generally go on to become a reality. "When we look back over what our survey has predicted over the last 15 or so years, it's pretty much shown out to be reliable as an information source."
In the latest survey, employers in all eleven sectors of the economy say they intend to increase staffing levels in the third quarter - which shows a recovery coming from all areas. However some areas look set to hire at a faster pace than others, while some are just about remaining in growth. "The electricity, gas and water sector is forecasting +20%, while transport, storage and communications are showing the strongest year-on-year growth," she said. "The agriculture sector is showing the weakest signs of growth, but still growth at 2%."
Some of the sectors enjoying growth might be expected to do so. For example restaurants and hotels are set to perform well in the coming months - matching the increase in tourism activity and consumer spending locally. However other areas might be less obvious - like quarrying and mining - though Ms O'Leary suggested that these are the types of areas that are simply less obvious to the average person. "Most of us have experience of the tourism sector," she said. "We eat out in restaurants, we see tourists coming to our cities and counties, but we're maybe less experienced in seeing what's happening in the quarrying sector."
On a regional basis there is also broadly good news across the board - with all areas bar Ulster anticipating a rise in employment activity. Dublin does the best at 15% - but Leinster, Munster and Connaght can also expect some positive news on the hiring front in the months ahead. "Leinster is coming in +9%, Munster is the same and both are up two percentage points on previous quarter," Ms O'Leary said. "Connaght is expected to slow slightly but still a strong outlook with +8%, so Ulster the only negative intention, either regionally or sectorally, at -1%."
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MORNING BRIEFS - Solar energy can create 7,300 jobs and help the country avoid European fines of more than €300m a year, according to the Irish Solar Energy Association. The body is calling on the Government to introduce supports for solar power generation which does not currently qualify for subsidies like wind and wave power. This would cost an estimated €25m a year up to 2030, according to KPMG, but the body says it would help the country to meet its 2020 renewable energy targets and avoid fines as a result. The ISEA says subsidies for the industry would also support employment in country - through the development, construction and maintenance of solar facilities.
*** Leading games companies are Los Angeles this week for the E3 convention - where the year's biggest hardware and software releases are showcased. Last night Microsoft unveiled an updated version of its Xbox One console, which will be smaller in size but more powerful. It also gave details of Project Scorpio - which is a new console that will support virtual reality gaming when it launches in a year's time. Meanwhile Sony gave a release date for its own virtual reality gaming device as well as details of a number of titles that will be available on it.
