Manpower: More layoffs than hires at Jacksonville companies in 1Q

More Jacksonville companies expect to trim their workforce than add to it in the first quarter of 2009, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

“From January to March, 12 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 13 percent expect to reduce their payrolls,” said Manpower spokeswoman Judy Leppia. “Another 66 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels and 8 percent are not certain of their hiring plans.”

The best local job prospects in the first quarter appear to be in wholesale and retail trade, information and hospitality. Employers in construction, manufacturing, transportation and utilities, finance and professional services expect to reduce payrolls.

The local expectations are worse than the national numbers. Of the more than 31,000 employers surveyed about first quarter hiring plans, 16 percent expect to increase staff and 13 percent expect to reduce payrolls. Sixty seven percent expect no change and 5 percent are undecided.

Manpower Inc. has been conducting the employment outlook survey for 46 years. Beginning with the first quarter 2009 survey, Manpower adjusted the methodology to better reflect the makeup of the U.S. economy. Manpower said the revisions make it impossible to compare the latest survey to previous results.