Tulsa's hiring outlook expected to remain strong, survey reports
BY LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
6/12/12 at 3:47 AM
Although weaker than it was for the second quarter, the Tulsa metro's hiring outlook for the upcoming third quarter is expected to remain strong, according to results of the Manpower Employment Outlook survey released Tuesday.
Tulsa metro employers expect to hire at a healthy pace July through September as 20 percent of the companies interviewed said they plan to increase their staff levels. That was down from 24 percent who said the same thing for the second quarter and 23 percent who expected to increase staff levels a year ago at the same time.
Another 4 percent said they plan to decrease their workforce for the upcoming quarter, and 76 percent said they expect to maintain staff levels.
Kelly Beyer, a branch manager for Manpower in Tulsa, noted that the outlook is still "very positive" despite being down a bit from the second quarter.
The Tulsa area continues to maintain an unemployment rate that is lower than the national average, and its net employment outlook of 16 percent in Manpower's survey is trending above the national average of 15 percent. When seasonally adjusted, the U.S. net employment outlook becomes 11 percent.
The net employment outlook is calculated by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring and subtracting the percentage expecting a decrease.
Locally, Manpower continues to see a strong request in the manufacturing sector, including the need for CNC machinists, welders and engineers, Beyer said.
Manpower, both locally and nationally, sees a talent shortage for certain positions. Beyer noted that many people who currently are in jobs are looking for better opportunities.
"The companies that are going to be offering quick decisions to job seekers are definitely going to be winning in that talent struggle. Those that offer solid pay and benefit structures and a good working environment and good culture - they will win the talent war," Beyer said.
It's very critical that employers, once they have determined a job applicant meets the qualifications, make an educated but quick hiring decision so they can capitalize on that talent before that individual moves on to the next opportunity, Beyer added.
Hiring confidence among U.S. employers continues to inch up as all states, regions and industries surveyed report a positive net employment outlook, according to the survey.
Of the more than 18,000 U.S. employers surveyed, 21 percent expect to add to their staff levels for the third quarter, and 6 percent expect a decrease in payrolls. Seventy-one percent of U.S. employers expect no change in their hiring plans, and 2 percent are undecided about their hiring intentions.
"This recovery continues to progress slowly, and we need more focus on structural challenges in the labor market in order to drive hiring acceleration in the future," Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup president of the Americas, said in a written statement. "Talent mismatch is a top concern, with half of U.S. employers struggling to find the right people with the right skills for their businesses. The key to solving this mismatch is to create solid partnerships between business leaders and the colleges, vocational institutions and high schools in their markets so job seekers can learn the relevant skills necessary for employment success."
Tulsa hiring outlook
Change in work force anticipated by area companies
| Increase | No change | Decrease | Don't know |
| 3rd quarter ’12 | 20% | 76% | 4% | 0% |
| 2nd quarter ’12 | 24% | 67% | 4% | 5% |
| 1st quarter ’12 | 13% | 78% | 2% | 7% |
| 4th quarter ’11 | 23% | 64% | 10% | 3% |
| 3rd quarter ’11 | 23% | 65% | 8% | 4% |
Best job prospects
For the third quarter, Tulsa job prospects appear best in the following areas:
- Durable goods manufacturing
- Non-durable goods manufacturing
- Transportation and utilities
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Financial activities
- Professional and business services
- Leisure and hospitality
- Other services
Original Print Headline: 3Q hiring outlook forecast to be strong
Laurie Winslow 918-581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Employee Dillin Yanulis cuts off the bottom part of the doorway of a safe-room at BLM Equipment and Manufacturing Company in Catoosa. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World file
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