A report released today shows more than a quarter of the Iowa businesses surveyed plan to hire more workers over the next three months. Manpower Incorporated spokesperson Karen Miller says the state of Iowa has one of the best third quarter employment outlooks in the nation.
Manpower’s Net Employment Outlook is based on the companies who plan to increase staff levels versus those that plan cuts. Between July and September, 28% of the Iowa businesses surveyed expect to hire more workers, while just 4% plan to reduce their workforce.
“Of all the employers (surveyed), the net number…24% of them are looking to expand their hiring efforts during the third quarter,” Miller said. That ties Iowa with North Dakota for third in country – behind only Alaska, with a net employment outlook of 29% and Vermont at 27%.
Miller notes Iowa’s net employment outlook one year ago was just 15%. “Each quarter, things seem to be stronger and stronger,” Miller said. “In quarter two of 2012, we were looking at an 18% net employment outlook. Coming up 6% pretty significant.”
The Des Moines metro area scored a net employment outlook of 28% — the second best metropolitan outlook in U.S. behind only Milwaukee (29%).