Valley hiring expected to rise

Article published Sep 12, 2006
by Joe Estrella at The Idaho Stateman

Valley hiring expected to rise
Survey indicates more employers plan to add staff in 4th quarter

A majority of Treasure Valley employers will increase or maintain their staffing levels during the fourth quarter, according to a Manpower Employment Outlook Survey to be released today.

The survey found that employment in the Boise area is accelerating, with more businesses planning to add workers during the last three months of the year than did in the third quarter.

Don Holley, professor of economics at Boise State University, said a surge in late-year hiring is not surprising, given that fourth-quarter retail employment always spikes significantly ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
The Manpower report indicated that 30 percent of area companies surveyed plan to add staff between October and December, while 64 percent plan to maintain current staffing levels. Three percent of respondents expected to cut jobs, while another 3 percent were undecided.

Manpower's nationwide survey of 16,000 employers found that 28 percent expect to add payroll, while 58 percent expect no change. Eight percent plan jobs cuts, while 6 percent were undecided.
"Boise area employers have stronger hiring intentions than in the third quarter when 20 percent of companies interviewed intended to add staff, and 3 percent planned to increase head-count," said Boise-based Manpower spokeswoman Wendie Gregory, in a statement. "Employers also have more positive hiring intentions than they did a year ago, when 24 percent of companies surveyed thought employment increases were likely and 10 percent intended to cut back."
The Manpower report showed that more jobs are expected to be available in the fourth quarter in the construction, transportation/public utilities, wholesale/retail and education/services sectors.

The number of jobs in the durable and non-durable goods manufacturing, finance, insurance and real estate sectors is expected to be remain unchanged.
Holley said that with the residential homebuilding market apparently beginning to slump, the planned hiring in construction will likely be in the commercial sector, which is still trying catch up with the new housing that has been built in the Treasure Valley.

"The news about manufacturing is good for the economy, too, because that's Hewlett-Packard and Micron," he added. "There are certain industries that are critical to the economy. If Dillard's went away, another retailer would come in to take its place. But if HP, Micron, Simplot and state government went away, this town would dry up."