Hiring Outlook to Remain Strong Into '06, Manpower Says

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.S. employers plan to carry over their positive hiring sentiments into 2006, according to the results of a new employment survey by Manpower Inc. released Tuesday.

The latest quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey rounds out two consecutive years of consistent job prospects, the group said.

"Businesses are not aggressively seeking to increase staff levels as they enter the new year," said Jeffrey Joerres, Manpower’s chairman & chief executive officer.

"Instead, they are looking back over the past several quarters and are concluding that hiring is still on target with their operational needs,” he said in a statement.

Of the 16,000 employers surveyed, 23% anticipate an increase in hiring activity for the first quarter of 2006, while 10% expect to decrease staff levels.

About 61% of employers surveyed foresee no change in hiring plans, while 6% are unsure of their staffing needs, Manpower said.