Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 2^nd Quarter of 2012

What’s Up With Hiring?

Hiring motivated by the need to grow workforces in Sacramento will rise above hiring only for replacements for the first time in several years in the Second Quarter of 2012.

In direct contacts by phone with Sacramento’s top regional companies, Pacific Staffing has discovered significant indications of economic improvement as seventy-one percent (71%) of employers say they are hiring in April, May and June 2012. For the first time in years, forty-two percent (42%) of planned hiring was motivated by the need to grow existing workforces. While just thirty-eight percent (38%) of Sacramento regional employers, polled directly between February 27th and March 17^th, attributed hiring needs to attrition, or replacements within their existing workforces. Hiring attributed to growth demands has trended up for three Quarters in a row among Sacramento employers surveyed.

Warmer temperatures are also heating up hiring demand as Sacramento’s regional agriculture, recreation and hospitality companies begin seasonal hiring. Ten percent (10%) of hiring demand in Q2 is attributed to seasonal change. While most of the regional economy is improving, some of those involved in residential construction, property development and some peripheral industries remain slow. Three percent (3%) of those surveyed report they will consider reducing workforces in the next three months as business remains slow for their individual companies.

Workforce Challenge?

Sacramento’s employment marketplace is warming back to life but recent strong spikes in gasoline costs were of great concern to those polled. In anecdotal conversations with company contacts, higher transportation costs for employees; and increased company transportation and petroleum related products costs could throw cold water on hiring plans quickly forcing a renewed slowdown.

How does this Quarter compare to last Quarter, or last year? Find out for yourself by viewing our past Sacramento Employment Trends reports.

Skills Demand?

While companies are getting a large number of applicants, many are noting the first problems in selecting specific qualifications. Finding applicants with specific skills are among first concerns as companies seek customer service, sales, technical, general office, manufacturing and warehouse workers in the next three months                                       

Sacramento Regional Top Companies Polled By Industry:  

• 45% are Service
• 32% are Manufacturers
• 15% are Construction
• 8% are Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: July 2012 =================

Media contact: Rick Reed 916-704-0080
 

Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 1st Quarter of 2012

New Year Cheer in Rising Trends?
Hiring in Sacramento will begin the New Year on an upward trend, as Pacific Staffing has discovered fifty-eight percent (58%) of top companies motivated to hire in Q1 2012. This trend toward local economic recovery maintains a slow rise that began with forty-six percent (46%) hiring at this time in 2010, fifty-one percent (51%) in Q1 2011.

In recession-driven Q1 2009 more than half of Sacramento’s regional employers surveyed weren’t hiring anyone while another twenty percent (20%) planned staff cutbacks and three local companies closed laying off their entire workforces.

In polling the top companies directly by phone between November 21^st and December 14^th, Pacific Staffing learned that just two companies planned layoffs; one for seasonal reasons with another citing slow business in the First Quarter of the new year.

A positive trend was also evident in demand for new workers in January, February and March. Thirty percent (30%) of employers are motivated to hire for growth in the first months of 2012, maintaining demand levels from the previous quarter, Q4 2011. Another thirty-five percent (35%) reported hiring in Q1 of the new year due to attrition in their existing workforces.

Workforce Challenge?
While benefit cost and management is still a major concern, a new challenge was noted, as companies report finding qualified applicants is becoming an issue. Specific skills in high demand in Q1 include sales and customer service workers, technical, warehouse and manufacturing experience.

Special Report: Got Retirement?
When asked if their company has a retirement plan, thirty-one percent (31%) of companies polled say No.  In addition, twenty-seven percent (27%) also say they have no plan to offer any retirement option in the future.  While many companies did have some retirement plans, most were oriented to employee 401K account options, with just a few offering a contribution match. While some companies couldn’t or wouldn’t answer, Service firms were most likely to offer retirement while Retail industry companies were least likely.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:

• 40% are Service
• 30% are Manufacturers
• 20% are Construction
• 10% are Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: April 2012 =================

Media contact: Rick Reed 916-704-0080

These results were also shared in the Sacramento Bee.

‘Pogo’ Markets Flatten Local Hiring
While Sacramento’s top employers are hiring, they continue to show extreme caution as events outside the area raise concerns about the economy. Like the up and down bouncing of the children’s toy, extreme fluctuations on Wall Street and in the greater world economy are impacting hiring trends revealed by Pacific Staffing for October, November and December.

62% of Respondents Report They Will Hire
Polled directly by phone sixty-two percent (62%) of Sacramento’s top companies say they will hire in the Fourth Quarter, but forty-two percent (42%) of planned hiring was motivated only by the need for replacements.  These levels mirror a straight line, or flat trend from Q 3’s numbers continuing to reflect caution in hiring for expansion by employers.

On the flip side, some industries are improving and thirty percent (30%) of hiring was also cited for growth needs, which is a slight improvement from Q3 when twenty-five percent  (25%) of hiring was motivated by planned expansion. Service industry companies were discovered to be most active in hiring during the Fourth Quarter.

10% of Respondents Report Looming Layoffs
Ten percent (10%) of companies say they planned to layoff workers in the next three months. Half those reductions, or 5% are motivated by seasonal change.  The remaining reductions caused by acquisitions and slowing business demand according to employers surveyed between 8/29 – 9/23/ 2011.

Workforce Challenge?
Employers continue to say benefits costs and management are their biggest struggle. A new challenge was noted, as some companies report finding qualified applicants is becoming an issue. Specific skills in high demand are technical including software design and digital networking, with biology lab science, allied health skills, sales and customer service workers in demand.

Special Report: Do Sacramento Employers ‘Like’ Social Networks?
When asked if their company had a page on the social network, Facebook, fifty-four percent (54%) of Sacramento’s top companies said, ‘Yes’.  Twenty-four percent (24%) admitted to looking at job applicants social network posts in hiring, while twenty-nine percent (29%) say they are spending part of their budget on social networks, through marketing or human resource departments.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:

• 38% Service
• 37% Manufacturers
• 16% Construction
• 9% are Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: January 2012 =================

Media contact: Rick Reed 916-704-0080

This research was also recently highlighted in the Sacramento Bee.

Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 3rd Quarter of 2011

Renewed Concerns

Hiring in the 3rd Quarter of 2011 will reflect Sacramento regional employer’s concerns about unsteady gasoline prices and economic agitation resulting from renewed fears about State government budgets and overseas debt. Despite those worries local companies are actively hiring for attrition while growth of workforces has been slowed. Growth was given as motivation to hire by just twenty-five percent (25%) of the top employers surveyed directly by telephone between May 22 and June 6th. Hiring attributed to growth has dropped seven percent (7%) from the previous Quarter. More companies are hiring but fewer workers are being employed as sixty-eight percent (68%) will hire in Q3, but forty-three percent (43%) of those hires are motivated only by expected workforce attrition.

Twenty-two percent (22%) of hiring was attributed to seasonal needs in construction, agriculture and summer service industry employment. Thirty-two percent (32%) of Sacramento employers surveyed on behalf of Pacific Staffing indicate no hiring planned for July, August and September 2011. Just one company indicated any plan to reduce their workforce in the next three months.

Graduate Hiring Demand: Special Report

2011 will be a difficult year for new graduates entering the workforce. When Sacramento regional employers were asked, “Will your company make any effort to hire new graduates?” seventy percent (70%) said No. Among the thirty percent (30%) indicating they would seek help from recent college graduation, those students with science and technology degrees were in highest demand. Service industry firms were looking for IT, Economics/Business, RN’s and Laboratory science degrees. Manufacturers and Construction firms indicated interest in hiring IT, Business, Biology/Lab Science expertise and degrees including Mechanical, Chemical, Civil and Structural Engineering.

Workforce Challenge?

The top challenge ahead for HR pros in the area remains concerns over healthcare costs and benefit changes. Some employers indicate problems with overtime, morale and increasing difficulty in finding qualified skilled applicants.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:

• 38% are Service
• 34% are Manufacturers
• 17% are Construction
• 11% are Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: October 2011 =================

Media contact: Rick Reed 916-704-0080

These survey results also appear in the Sacramento Bee.

For immediate release: April 2011
Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 2nd Quarter of 2011

Rising Expectations

Have you asked for a raise? Thirty-two percent (32%) of local employers say workers are coming forward to ask about money as the economy improves in 2011. Another twenty-one percent (21%) of companies surveyed report employees have left the company to take another job offering higher pay. In the poll of top regional companies conducted between February 21 and March 14, forty percent (40%) of companies admit they are worried about protecting essential, or core, employees as improving economic conditions create more competitive job opportunities for workers held in place by fear of job loss during the recession.

Surveyed directly by phone, Sacramento regional employer’s responses to issues of employee retention and improving local market conditions are tempered by the recent social upheaval in the Middle East and repercussions from the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami on the economy.

Pacific Staffing discovered that fifty-nine percent (59%) of Sacramento regional employers polled report they are planning to hire in the Second Quarter (Q2).  Thirty-two percent (32%) of hiring motivation is described as growth, adding to existing workforce levels in April, May and June 2011. Twenty-nine percent (29%) of employers report hiring for attrition, to replace current jobs, during Q2.  Once again employer hiring may now be reduced or delayed by concerns about rising costs for gasoline or supply problems originating in Japan. Forty one percent (41%) of 100 top regional companies say they are not planning to hire anyone in the next three months.

While market conditions are improving for many, some companies in specific sectors remain static, or expect to reduce workforce in the Second Quarter. Eight percent (8%) of companies report planned reductions primarily due to slow business. While Service, Manufacturer and Retail sectors show improvement, Construction and property related businesses surveyed remain on hold.  Twelve percent (12%) of planned hiring in the next three months is attributed to seasonal change.

How does this Quarter compare to last Quarter, or last year? Find out for yourself:

• Sacramento 2011 1st Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 4th Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 3rd Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 2nd Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 1st Quarter Employment Trends

Skills Demand

Looking for work in Retail is a good bet for the next Quarter. Sales and customer service were in highest demand, followed by computer-oriented technical skills. Accounting, manufacturing, product assembly, warehouse and shipping workers were also sought by Sacramento regional employers.

Workforce Challenge?

The top challenge ahead for HR pros in the area remain serious concerns about how to manage changes in healthcare/ benefits and cost.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:

• 42% are Service
• 33% are Manufacturers
• 17% are Construction
• 8% are Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: July 2011 =================

Results from this study were also shared in the Sacramento Bee.

For immediate release: January 2011
Job demand & hiring trends for Sacramento companies in the 1st Quarter of 2011

Growing Trend

Twenty-six percent (26%) of Sacramento’s top regional employers are pessimistic about the economy for the next year. On the flip side, another sixty-two percent (62%) of the people who manage people believe there is reason to be optimistic in 2011. In addition, human resource contacts at the 100 top companies surveyed directly by phone say their firms are likely to add workers through the next year. While some couldn’t answer or didn’t know, sixty-seven percent (67%) were positive about employee expansion when asked if the company would grow its workforce in the next year. As ‘consumer confidence’ spurs the economy, improving economic outlooks are raising ‘employer confidence’ that leads to more hiring. Sacramento’s top companies aren’t going anywhere soon, eighty-nine percent (89%) of the top employers also expect to be occupying the same local address through 2011.

Traditionally the slowest period for hiring in the Sacramento region, fifty-one percent (51%) of companies polled say they will be hiring in the First Quarter of 2011. While thirty-six percent (36%) report more hiring for replacements, or attrition in their existing workforce, thirty-one percent (31%) report hiring motivated by the need for more workers in January, February and March. As economic and market conditions have improved through the year, Pacific Staffing has discovered that Sacramento’s top employers have maintained or increased hiring motivated by the need to expand existing workforces- 20% in Q1, 37% Q2, 35% Q3, 27% Q4 of 2010 and 31% anticipated in Q1 2011.

Three percent (3%) of hiring in Q1 will be motivated by seasonal demands. Six percent (6%) of companies report planned reductions caused by weather-related concerns and continued slow demand for their products or services in the first three months of the New Year.

How does this Quarter compare to last quarter, or last year? Find out for yourself:

• Sacramento 2010 4th Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 3rd Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 2nd Quarter Employment Trends
• Sacramento 2010 1st Quarter Employment Trends

Skills Demand

For those seeking employment among the area’s top companies customer service/sales and technical skills are in high demand in the next Quarter. Sacramento employers are also seeking workers with experience in manufacturing, product assembly, warehouse and shipping over the next three months.

Workforce Challenge?

The top challenge ahead for HR pros in the area remain serious concerns about how to manage changes in healthcare benefits and costs relating to new laws. Twenty-three percent (23%) of companies polled report healthcare reform -increasing costs and management of company benefit programs their greatest headache.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:

• 37%  Service
• 33% Manufacturers
• 20% Construction
• 10% Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: April 2011 =================

Details from this study were shared in the Sacramento Bee in a story titled “Job Front: Sacramento Employers Looking to Hire in 2011, Survey Finds”

Sacramento Quarterly Employment Trends
Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 4th Quarter of 2010

More Sacramento regional employers will be hiring in the next three months than during this same period last year. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of 100 top companies report they will seek workers in October, November and December of 2010, an increase of six percent (6%) over the Fourth Quarter of 2009. While more regional companies are hiring in the latest quarterly poll of employers by Pacific Staffing, thirty-seven percent (37%) say they are motivated to hire only for replacements in their existing workforce.

As Sacramento regional employers regain market traction and new orders, hiring for growth has also grown by a small percentage over 4th Quarter last year. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of companies polled directly by telephone, or two percent (2%) more than in 2009, say they will increase their workforce in the next three months. Seven percent (7%) of hiring is attributed to seasonal demand.

These incremental increases in regional hiring and planned growth are tempered by the continuing problems noted in some specific industry areas. Seven of ten Construction-oriented companies report they are not hiring anyone in October, November or December. One regional Manufacturer reports they will be laying-off ninety-eight percent (98%) of their workforce in the 4th Quarter.

Skills Demand
For those seeking employment among the area’s top companies customer service/sales, manufacturing and industry specific technical skills are in high demand in the next Quarter. Experience with software specific to manufacturing, construction estimating and computer assisted design (CAD) were noted. Sacramento employers are also seeking workers with experience in product assembly, warehouse and shipping over the next three months.

Workforce Challenge?
The top challenge ahead for HR pros in the area is concern about how to manage changes in healthcare benefits and costs relating to new laws. Twenty-two percent (22%) of companies polled report concern over healthcare reform, increasing costs and management of company benefit programs.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:
42% are Service, 33% are Manufacturers, 15% are Construction and 10% are Retail

================ Next Quarterly Projections: January 2011 =================

Media contact: Rick Reed 916-704-0080.

Pacific Staffing
Sacramento Quarterly Employment Trends

Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 3rd Quarter of 2010

Eighty percent (80%) of the human resource professionals at the region’s top companies say, in a word, no, the recession isn’t over. However, when asked about progress toward economic recovery -“Are you looking forward to a better economy now?”- seventy-five percent (75%) of those with the 100 top companies say, yes. While the results indicate optimism for recovery is widespread, Pacific Staffing has discovered that confidence in long-term stability remains a question mark for many of the people who manage other people in the Sacramento regional economy. HR contacts were also asked if, in their opinion, they expected the company to grow and sixty-six percent (66%) said, yes. Fifty-two percent (52%) of those responding also believed that jobs were returning slowly and hiring will soon increase in the area.

In the 3rd Quarter, fifty-eight percent (58%) of Sacramento regional companies say they will be hiring. Another forty-two percent (42%) say no hiring is planned for July, August and September. In direct contacts by telephone May 24- June 21, forty percent (40%) of companies report hiring only for replacements or attrition in the existing workforce. However, the number of companies attributing hiring motivated by growth has risen again in 2010 with thirty-five percent (35%) hiring for new workers in Q3.

Twelve percent (12%) of Sacramento regional hiring was also attributed to seasonal demands. Four percent (4%) of companies planned force reductions, attributing them to seasonal change or problems caused by recession and continuing slow business.

Skills Demand
Sales, technical skills and customer service experience are in high demand in the next three months. Sacramento regional HR contacts also report need for warehouse, shipping, product assembly and manufacturing experience in the next Quarter for those seeking employment.

Workforce Challenge?
The top challenge ahead for HR pros in the area is concern about how to manage changes in healthcare benefits and costs relating to new laws.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:
43% are Service, 32% are Manufacturers, 14% are Construction and
11% are Retail

Pacific Staffing
Sacramento Quarterly Employment Trends

Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 2nd Quarter of 2010

Employers in Sacramento are warming up to increasing demands for products and services by planning to hire additions to their current workforce in Q2 of 2010. While some specific industry segments remain weak, Pacific Staffing has discovered that hiring attributed to the need for more workers rose to thirty-seven percent (37%) of overall demand in the latest telephone poll of 100 top companies. At this period last year, just fourteen percent (14%) planned growth hiring in the months of April, May and June. This was also the second Quarter this year to demonstrate increased motivation by employers to grow. Twenty-percent (20%) of hiring in January, February and March was attributed to demand for workforce growth.

Sixty-one percent (61%) of the Sacramento regional companies polled between Feb. 22 and March 18th report plans to hire in the second Quarter. In contrast, and a virtual reversal of the survey numbers, fifty-nine percent (59%) of employers weren’t hiring anyone during these same months in 2009.

As the weather heats up in Sacramento, twenty-percent (20%) of hiring is motivated by seasonal changes in April, May and June according to regional employers contacted.

EXTRA INDICATOR: When asked if more employees were requesting time off for vacations this year than last year, twenty-two percent of HR contacts said, “Yes.” A greater confidence in workforce stability and economic recovery would be indicated as 10% of Service, 4% of Manufacturers, 4% of Construction and 4% of Retail companies report more workers taking time off in the months ahead than at this time last year.

Some economic uncertainty remains with weakness in hiring demand problematic in specific industry segments including printing/publishing, manufactured housing, construction and auto retail.

Skills Demand
The demand for sales and technical skills are both in high demand in the next three months. Sacramento regional HR contacts also report needs for workers with customer service, manufacturing and construction trades experience in the next Quarter.

Workforce Challenge?
The greatest ongoing workplace and human resources challenge concerning employers remains the cost of healthcare benefits. Secondarily, HR professionals remain concerned about continued recovery of the economy and greater demand for products and services.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:
42% are Service, 35% are Manufacturers, 15% are Construction
and 8% are Retail

Pacific Staffing
Sacramento Quarterly Employment Trends

Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 1st Quarter of 2010

At this time last year employers were using attrition, hiring freezes and massive layoffs to cut workers while some businesses closed their doors forever. After one of the worst years in decades, the Sacramento regional employment market is regaining traction. Usually a slow period for hiring in the Sacramento area Pacific Staffing has learned that forty-six percent (46%) of 100 top area companies surveyed plan to hire in the first quarter, Q1 of 2010.

In Q1 of 2009 more than half of Sacramento regional employers surveyed weren’t hiring anyone, another twenty percent (20%) planning staff cutbacks and three local companies closed and laid-off everyone. In contrast to those conditions, in Q1 2010, just seven percent (7%) of company’s surveyed plan to reduce workforces in January, February or March. This year lay-offs or reductions-in-force are attributed to seasonal change and a merger, not to a failing recessionary economy.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of companies reported hiring for growth needs in the last quarter, Q4 2009. Historically the slowest hiring period of the year across the area, another positive sign for Sacramento regional jobs recovery in the first quarter of 2010 is indicated as twenty percent (20%) of employers polled say they will be motivated to hire for growth and add staff in Q1.

Contacted directly by telephone between November 18 and December 18, 2009, six percent (6%) of hiring is motivated by seasonal demands in Q1.

Skills Demand
Sacramento employers are looking for technical skills first of all. Demand for technical experience was double any other in first quarter with a focus on computer networking and proprietary industry-specific software operations. Employers also seek customer service, sales, manufacturing and shipping experience in the first three months of 2010.

Workforce Challenge?
Among all companies the cost of benefits was noted as the greatest challenge in the New Year. Morale was a significant issue noted by contacts at companies currently not hiring. For the first time in nearly a year, two companies say finding qualified candidates for jobs is becoming an issue.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:
44% are Service, 31% are Manufacturers, 15% are Construction
and 10% are Retail