Survey Reveals Oregon Employers' Hiring Plans

The results are in! The Employment Department's Spring 2011 Future Hiring Survey was released yesterday, giving us a sneak peek at the hiring plans of Oregon businesses over the next six months. This spring we expanded on last fall's hiring survey to include regional information.
Here's a quick summary of the Spring 2011 survey findings:

• One-fifth (19%) of all employers plan to increase their workforce, while 62 percent say they do not anticipate any staffing changes. Seven percent expect a decrease in staff, and the remainder don't know if they will add new employees.

• Nineteen percent of businesses will be hiring due to turnover, with seasonal industries adding more workers for the spring and summer.
  

• Hiring will occur across 350 occupations, the most common jobs being in office and administrative support; food preparation and serving related; and sales and related occupations.

• The economy was listed as the number one reason stopping employers from hiring. Nearly half of respondents said that the recession, high fuel costs, a tight credit market, or slow housing market were preventing them from adding more workers.
  

• Future staffing expectations did not vary greatly across the state, though Willamette Valley businesses were slightly more likely to increase staff.

For more information, take a look at the full survey results, or contact State Employment Economist Nick Beleiciks (503-947-1267 or Nick.J.Beleiciks@state.or.us).