Iowa employers are slightly more confident about boosting their staffing levels according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. Manpower spokesperson Kathy Joblinske says companies across the state were asked about their hiring plans for the third quarter, July to September.
The survey found 23% plan to hire more employees, while 8% expect to reduce their payroll. Another 66% of companies expect to maintain their current staffing levels. “We interpret that as, yes, we are growing – but we are growing cautiously and (are being) careful in our hiring process and plans,” Joblinske said. The third quarter results compare favorably to the second quarter when just 17% of companies planned to add employees.
Last week, Joblinske attended an Iowa Association of Business and Industry conference in Dubuque, where a number of attendees expressed concerns about finding qualified employees for some positions. She says the comments confirm the findings of another Manpower survey.
“When we look across the U.S., we’re finding the most difficult positions to fill are skilled trades, sales representatives, engineers, drivers, and accounting and finance staff,” Joblinske said. She says employers may need to reevaluate how they can attract top talent – possibly by boosting salaries and benefits.