Local Job Market to Get Stronger

PHOENIX-A survey released today finds that more than half of the Valley’s employers plans to add staff by the end of this year and that none expects any layoffs.

The report, by New York-based staffing company Manpower Inc., is good news for the area’s commercial real estate industry. Strong job growth tends to boost demand for office and industrial space, increase spending at retail projects and raise the need for apartments to house the growing workforce.

According to Manpower’s quarterly employment-outlook survey, 52% of Valley businesses plan to add more workers in the final quarter of this year. None expect to institute layoffs, while 48% say they’ll simply stick with the number of workers they have today.

The statewide forecast isn’t quite as cheery. Though a healthy 42% of employers across Arizona expect to add more jobs in the fourth quarter, 50% say they’ll keep their payroll the same, 3% expect to cut staff and 5% say they’re unsure what the final quarter will bring.