Survey - Brisk local labor market

Job postings will be plentiful in Southeast Missouri this winter if the first-quarter employment outlook survey recently issued by Manpower is right.

In its regular survey of the January-March period, 30 percent of the firms questioned said they plan staffing level increases, 10 percent projected reductions and 60 percent expected no change during the winter months.

Job prospects in the new year appear most likely in durable and non-durable goods, manufacturing, transportation/public utilities, and financial/insurance/real estate, according to Manpower. Cutbacks are forecast for construction and wholesale/retail trade. Mixed readings come from services.