TORonTO — Employment conditions for manufacturers going into the fourth quarter are mild to favourable, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey results.

Overall, the 1,900 Canadian employers from a variety of industry sectors polled for the study report a “respectable” hiring climate overall.

The Manpower Group, a global workforce solutions firm, says the net employment outlook of 10% represents a slight decrease from the previous quarter and down 3% from this time last year and represents one of the more modest employer forecasts in more than two years.

The US outlook is 11%, up from 8% a year ago.

Nearly 16% of employers plan to increase their payrolls, while 7% anticipate cutbacks and 75% expect to maintain their current staffing levels.

Two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.

“Job seekers in all regions are likely to benefit from a positive hiring climate from October through December, with employers in Western Canada reporting the most upbeat Outlook,” says Byrne Luft, vice president of operations, staffing services for Manpower Canada.

“Most of the new jobs created in Canada this year have been full-time, high paying positions. Many of the job reductions have come from part-time employment. This movement from part-time to full-time employment is an encouraging sign.”

Manufacturers in the durables sector remain unchanged from Q3 with a net outlook of 12%, which means a favourable hiring climate. However, the outlook is down 5% from this time last year.

Manufacturers of nondurables are in milder territory with a 5% outlook, but that’s a slight improvement from the previous quarter’s 4%, but an 8% dro from last year at this time.

Click here for a copy of the survey results.