Alberta employment survey predicts oil and gas job cuts, but hiring in other sectors

Eight per cent of Calgary companies say they plan to increase staff which isthe same number planning to decrease staff,an employment outlook surveysays.

Manpower for Alberta, which conducted the survey, sayssectorslike oil and gaspredict job losses, while otherslike construction, publicadministration, andwholesale and retailtradeare gearing up for a busier time.

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"It'svery key to stop and understand that there are jobs, hiring is happening,"said Randy Upright,CEO of Manpower for Alberta.

"Focusing on where that is happening is probably the most important thing you can do as ajobseekerat this time," he added.

FramerMike Hill says for him businessslowed down in September, but he's already expecting work to pick up in the new year.

"Sales have come up,I mean they've sold close to 20 one month,14 another month. That [work]we will see in January, February," said Hill, whoframes new homes for a local builder in southeast Calgary.

Manpowerasked 1,900employers across the country how they anticipated their employment levels would change for the next quarter.

In western Canada,construction, wholesale and trade, and public administration are all expected to see growth.

However the mining sector, which includes oil and gas, is likely to face more cuts.