Survey Predicts Continued Hiring Growth Rate in Q4 2012

According to a survey released by Express Employment, many employers are planning to add new staff for commercial and administrative jobs. Aboutone-third of employers are planning new hires for commercial and light industrial jobs while 14 percent revealed that they plan to add administrative and clerical staff. Administrative and office clerical staff have the most favorable outlook in the southern, central, and western regions of the country. The east central region is experiencing a need in accounting and finance employees and jobs in customer service, general labor, maintenance, retail, and sales will see staff increases in the northeast.

“With the unemployment rate at its lowest since January 2009 and employers planning to hire even more staff, we’re off to a good start for the fourth quarter for job seekers,” said Bob Funk, CEO and chairman of the board for Express. “This news comes on the heels of Express placing more than 20,000 new employees in North America in September.”

Survey respondents said work ethic and integrity are the most important characteristics in job applicants and are weighed heaviest when making hiring decisions. Earlier in the year, employers cited job experience and attitude to be the most important attributes. Over half of respondents said that recruiting new employees continued to be difficult and were having problems filling positions.