SURVEY SAYS MORE JOBS FORECAST FOR THIRD QUARTER

About one in three U.S. companies plans to hire more workers the third quarter of the year as a tight labor market continues to keep employment prospects good, says a survey of nearly 16,000 companies.

The quarterly survey released Monday by the temporary employment company, Manpower Inc., showed that 35 percent of employers surveyed expect to hire more workers in the third quarter, while 5 percent say they will cut staff and 55 percent expect no change. The remaining 5 percent were uncertain.

That same brisk hiring pattern will greet job seekers in Southeast Missouri this summer, said Peggy Gates of the local Manpower office at 2909 Beaver Creek.

The local report indicates 40 percent of companies expect their payrolls to increase during the July-through-September period. In fact, none of those interviewed said fewer workers will be needed here, and 57 percent intend to stay at current levels.

"In the survey of three months ago, employers indicated mixed intentions,'" said Gates. "Only 27 percent anticipated additional staff."

Looking ahead, hiring prospects appear best in construction, durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation and public utilities, services and public administration.

On a national basis, companies in record numbers will be competing for new employees in most geographic regions, said Jeffrey Joerres, Manpower's president and chief executive officer.

"The survey results combined with the drop in the unemployment rate indicate that the traditional labor supply is essentially exhausted," said Joerres.

Forty-one percent of all construction firms polled by Manpower plan to hire more workers as the busy summer building season heats up, while only 3 percent expect to job cuts. According to the survey, a record 33 percent of companies that manufacture non-durable goods expect to add workers, while 6 percent see declines in employment.

Of the companies that manufacture durable goods, 38 percent said more workers will be needed in the upcoming quarter, while 7 percent expect to trim their work force, the poll said.

Job prospects in the West and Midwest are expected to be robust this summer, the survey said.

Over the past year payroll employment has grown by 36,400 jobs in Missouri, reaching 2.7 million. Employment in Cape Girardeau County has grown to 37,478, up more than 2,000 from a year ago.

Cape Girardeau and Perry Counties are among the lowest in unemployment, at 2.8 percent and 2.1 percent respectively.

"Virtually very county in Southern Illinois saw its unemployment rate fall," said Charles M. Vessell, labor market economist for the Illinois Department of Employment Security's Marion office. This was due to the absence of major layoffs and the increase in construction employment, said Vessell.

All four extreme Southern Illinois counties are under double-figures in unemployment, led by Massac County's 4.6 percent. Union reported 7.7 percent unemployment, Pulaski 8.1 percent and Alexander 8.3 percent.