JOB GROWTH EXPECTED; SURVEY FINDS FIRMS WILL ADD TO WORK FORCES

Businesses expect to hire workers this summer at the highest levels in 20 years, says a national survey.

A study released by Manpower Inc., the nation's largest temporary-staffing company, said 32 percent of busineses across the country intend to increase their work forces.

The percentage is higher in Southeast Missouri. The report said personnel additions are planned by 36 percent of Southeast Missouri businesses surveyed.

"No busineses in the local area anticipated payroll reductions," said Peggy Gates of the local Manpower office at 2909 Beaver Creek. "The remaining 64 percent said they would continue current staffing levels."

That compares to national expectations that 59 percent will retain current staffing levels. Five percent said they may cut back and 4 percent were unsure.

The survey also predicted that the unemployment rate would continue to drop. April's 4.3 percent unemployment figure was the lowest since 1970.

Missouri unemployment rate also decreased in April. Statewide unemployment dipped three-tenths of a point from March, to 4.2 percent in April. Total employment increased by 41,000 people from March, totaling 2,785,900 in April.

Perry County, which had 2.8 percent unemployment in March, increased to 3 percent but was still one of the lowest rates in the area.

Cape Girardeau County also increased from March and stood at 4.3 per cent in April. That means more than 34,000 of Cape Girardeau County's 37,000 available work force were working in April.

The Cape Girardeau unemployment totals have ranged from a monthly low of 3.4 percent to a high of 4.7 percent.

Other Southeast Missouri unemployment rates in April: Bollinger County, 7.1 percent; Scott County, 4.9 percent; Stoddard County, 8 percent; and Mississippi County, 7.4 percent.

The Manpower survey confirms a continuing hiring trend across the nation. In both the third quarter last year and the second quarter this year, 30 percent of businesses planned to increase their payrolls and 5 percent expected them to decrease.

"Companies contacted about hiring three months ago voiced similar intentions in the Southeast Missouri area," said Gates. "And a year ago 46 percent forecasted increased employment rolls."

Gates said many employers will continue to find available labor in short supply this quarter.

For July, August and September, job opportunities are expected in durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and public utilities, wholesale and retail trade, education, services and public administration.

The year-to-year and quarter-to-quarter increases in intentions to employ more people don't represent dramatic changes, but they do represent a clear continuation of significant job growth across the nation, said Mitchell S. Fromstein, Manpower's chief executive. "There are still more jobs to fill than qualified people to fill them."

The Midwest and West topped the nation's employment regions, with wholesalers and retailers in those areas expecting to hire more people than at any time in the survey's 22-year history.

Construction leads the national survey by occupation, but nearly every sector was expected to either meet or exceed seasonal predictions. The fields of education, finance, insurance and real estate are particularly hot, with staffing levels expected to match those of the 1970s.

The last time the outlook was as bright was in the third quarter of 1978, when 34 percent of surveyed companies said they expected to hire workers and 6 percent planned cuts.

Manpower's survey was based on telephone interviews during the last two weeks of April with 15,653 businesses, including many in Southeast Missouri.

The company said the figures have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent.

April unemployment

Cape County 4.3%

Perry County 3.0%

Bollinger County 7.1%

Scott County 4.9%

Stoddard County 8.0%

Mississippi County 7.4%