Katrina's Impact on Jobs May be Less Than First Thought

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urricane Katrina's aftermath will have an isolated effect on the hiring prospects of U.S. employers, with nearly a third expecting to add to their payrolls in the fourth quarter, according to a survey by Manpower Inc., the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The 400,000 lost jobs forecast by the Congressional Budget Office last week may also prove to be too high, AP reported.

Manpower's quarterly survey of 16,000 employers was taken before Aug. 29 when the hurricane struck New Orleans, but additional polling of fewer than 200 companies afterward found they expected little impact on their plans, AP said.

Strains such as high oil prices and port closures are easing and some companies have already rerouted their goods traffic around the damage, Manpower Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Joerres told AP.

The survey found that 29% of companies polled expect to add jobs in the fourth quarter, while 8% plan to reduce staff. About 57% expect not to change their staffing levels, while 6% are unsure of their plans.