Employment prospects dim as few employers look to hire, says survey

Those looking for work in Charlottetown should expect a tough go in the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest Manpower Employment outlook survey,

The most cautious hiring plans are reported in Charlottetown, where the outlook is +1%. Manpower Employment

The survey, which interviewed more than 1,900 Canadian employers about their hiring plans for the first quarter of 2016, said people should expect a limited hiring climate.

The survey suggests only 13 per cent of employers plan to hire for the period between January and March 2016.

And 20 per cent of respondents said they anticipate cutting staff rather than hiring.

Another 63 percent of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels, while the remaining four percent aren't sure what they will do.

Moncton employers report the strongest hiring prospects, according to the survey, with 25 per cent of employers planning to hire, while steady hiring activity of 16 per cent is anticipated in Halifax and St. John's.

Manpower Employment said with seasonal variations removed from the data, it's a decrease of about 12 per cent compared to the previous quarterly outlook, and a 27 per cent decrease from the outlook reported during the same time last year.