SYDNEY, N.S. — Cape Breton employers are expecting a modest hiring climate for the third quarter of 2020, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.
The survey data indicates that 24 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter, while seven per cent anticipate cutbacks.
Another 66 per cent of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels in the upcoming quarter, while the remaining three per cent of employers are unsure of their hiring intentions.
With seasonal variations removed from the data, Cape Breton’s third-quarter Net Employment Outlook of plus-7 per cent is a three percentage point increase when compared to the previous quarterly outlook.
It is also an eight percentage point increase from the outlook reported during the same time last year, indicating a moderate hiring pace for the upcoming months.
The same survey indicates a negative employer outlook of minus-1 per cent for the entire nation.
The Net Employment Outlook is minus-10 per cent, which is a 19 percentage point decrease when compared to the previous quarter and a 21 percentage point decrease from the outlook reported during the same time last year.
Employers in all four regions of the country and eight industry sectors expect to decrease payrolls next quarter as well.
The survey of over 1,000 employers across Canada shows that 12 per cent of employers plan to increase their staffing levels in the third quarter of 2020, while 17 per cent anticipate cutbacks. Meanwhile, 60 per cent of the employers surveyed expect their current staffing levels to remain unchanged, while the remaining 11 per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions.
“Companies that are hiring generally fall into the category of being essential service or supportive of essential services during this time,” said Darlene Minatel, country manager of ManpowerGroup Canada, in a press release.
The category of essential workers is expanding beyond grocery store clerks and temperature checkers, she noted.
“Think of roles in the IT sector, including chip manufacturers and app developers, who are leading the shift to more flexible and remote work.”
