Strongest Job Expectations in Greater New Haven, Survey Says

The prospects for hiring in the first quarter of 2020 in Connecticut are promising, according to a new survey of employers, with little overall change expected.  The most upbeat expectations are in the Greater New Haven area, with 26 percent of employers indicating they plan to hire more employees, and only 4 percent expecting to reduce payroll.  Just over two-thirds (69%) expect employment levels to remain unchanged.

The survey, by the Manpower Group, looked a business hiring expectations nationwide, including state by state comparisons. U.S. employers expect the hiring pace to remain steady in the first quarter of the new decade, although regional and industry forecasts are mixed. The U.S. has a positive outlook of +19%, down 1 percentage point year-over-year.

Among the local employers surveyed in Connecticut, 22 percent plan to hire more employees from January through March. This number is offset slightly by the 7 percent that plan to reduce payrolls, while 70 percent of employers expect to maintain current staff levels and 1 percent indicate they are not sure of their hiring plans. This yields a net employment outlook of 15 percent, somewhat below the national expectations.

“Compared to Q4 2019 when the Net Employment Outlook was 14 percent, Connecticut employers have reported consistent hiring pace,” said Betty Gooding of Manpower. “When looking at year-over-year expectations, hiring intentions have remained stable from when the Outlook was also 15 percent a year ago.”

According to the survey, employers in these industries are optimistic about hiring in the first quarter of 2020: Construction, Durable Goods Manufacturing, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Transportation & Utilities, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, and Leisure & Hospitality.

Comparing various geographic regions of Connecticut, the strongest hiring expectations are in New Haven-Milford, with a net employment outlook of 22 percent, exceeding the national projection; the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford metropolitan area yields a net employment outlook of 14 percent; the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk region yields a net employment outlook of 10 percent.    

The survey also found the greatest optimism in regards to hiring elsewhere in the country.  In the South, employers anticipate the strongest regional hiring pace, up four percentage points quarter over quarter and the highest in 13 years (+22%). The Outlook in the Midwest (+21%) is at a 19-year high.

Employers in Arkansas (+28%), Maryland (+27%), New Hampshire (+25%), and South Carolina (+24%) report the strongest Outlooks nationwide. Of the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas, the strongest job gains are expected in Chattanooga, Tenn., (+34%), Columbus, Ohio, (+33%), Cape Coral, Fla. (+31%) and Deltona, Fla. (+31%).

“Continued concerns over trade uncertainty are leading to some uneven market conditions in the U.S., yet the overall labor market looks resilient heading into the new year,” said Becky Frankiewicz, President of ManpowerGroup North America.