Irish weakest in EU for job prospects

[SPDAY]

Job prospects in Ireland are the weakest in the EU with the latest
World Quarterly Manpower Survey showing that the hiring intentions
of Ireland employers rank the lowest in Europe

In Ireland, the survey is conducted by interviewing a
representative sample of 633 Irish employers

All respondents are asked: "how do you anticipate total employment
at your location changing over the next three months to the end of
June 2009, compared to the current quarter?

It found that 20pc of Irish employers report that they will be
reducing staff numbers between April and June of 2009 while only
6pc expect to hire new staff

This results in a Net Employment Outlook of minus 14pc

When this figure is seasonally adjusted the resulting Net
Employment Outlook is minus 15pc

Employers in all five Irish regions and all 11 industry sectors
surveyed have predicted a reduction in their hiring intentions
compared to the same time last year

The most optimistic Net Employment Outlook figures are reported by
employers in the Pharmaceutical industry sector, who report a
cautious Net Employment Outlook of 5pc

This reflects a moderate 5 percentage point improvement quarter
over quarter, although the Outlook is 12 percentage points weaker
than the same period last year

The weakens hiring prospects are in the Mining and Quarrying
sector, where employers report a dismal Outlook of minus 43pc

Of the 11 industry sectors surveyed, the hiring intentions amongst
Construction industry sector employers has seen the most dramatic
decline since last year, falling a staggering 39 percentage points
from plus 8pc to the current figure of minus 32pc this quarter

Reassuringly however, there has been a slight quarter over quarter
improvement as the hiring Outlook in the Construction industry
sector has improved by a slight 4 percentage points

There has also been a considerable decline in the Outlook reported
for the Public and Social sector, which is 18 percentage points
weaker resulting in a bleak Net Employment Outlook of minus 20pc

Globally, employers in most of the world's major labour markets
are less optimistic about hiring in the second quarter of 2009.
Notably, employers in 24 countries (out of a total of 33 surveyed)
are reporting the weakest hiring plans since the surveys were
established there by Manpower