MILWAUKEE, Sept 13, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- U.S. employers are unwavering in their hiring confidence for the fourth quarter of 2005, according to the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, conducted quarterly by Manpower Inc. For seven straight quarters, the job picture in the U.S. has been virtually unchanged.

"Businesses are looking back at the economic woes they weathered in recent years and are seeing that those struggles were not entirely in vain because of what they learned from them. Hiring has emerged as one of the top lessons, evidenced by the fact that employers have achieved an unprecedented level of precision in managing their workforce. That is why we continue to see such a high degree of consistency in our survey results," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Chairman & CEO of Manpower Inc.

Of the 16,000 employers that were surveyed, 29% expect to add to their payrolls during the fourth quarter, while 8% plan to reduce staff levels. In addition, 57% of the employers polled report no change in hiring intentions, and 6% are unsure of their staffing plans. The adjusted Net Employment Outlook for the October to December period is 20%, which is similar to the third quarter and identical to survey findings a year ago.

Employers in the majority of the 10 industry sectors surveyed plan to keep year-end hiring steady with the previous quarter. Those sectors include Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale/Retail Trade, Services and Public Administration. Wholesale/Retail Trade employers are not as optimistic entering the 2005 holiday season as they were last quarter or a year ago, while those in the Services sector expect a slight improvement in hiring conditions from third quarter and last year at this time.

Please note that fourth quarter survey data was collected prior to
     Hurricane Katrina.  Manpower is prepared to discuss how the hurricane has
     thus far changed the employment landscape in the areas where we do
     business and how we have responded to those changes in our job placement
     and recruitment efforts.

"Hiring plans among Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturers have slowly trended downward since the beginning of the year, but those job prospects are looking up for the fourth quarter," said Joerres. "Fourth quarter hiring expectations in the Mining sector are stronger than they have been since the early 1980s, which could present a labor challenge for the industry if there is validity to the recent concerns over a skills shortage among miners."

Hiring patterns in the four U.S. regions are varied. Employers in the Northeast and Midwest are more optimistic about adding to their payrolls than they were in the third quarter. Little change in hiring is expected in the West, while employers in the South plan to hire at a more conservative pace in the coming quarter. Compared with the final months of 2004, hiring plans in the South and West are relatively unchanged. Employers in the Northeast predict a slight year-over-year improvement in job prospects, while those in the Midwest are not as confident about hiring as they were a year ago.

The job forecast for the fourth quarter of 2005 is strongest in the West. For the second consecutive quarter, the employment outlook is weakest in the Midwest.

In addition to the United States, the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted in 22 other countries and territories. The quarterly report from Manpower Inc. is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, gathering data from more than 45,000 employers across the globe each quarter.

The majority of employers in 20 of the 23 countries and territories surveyed expect to add staff during the fourth quarter of 2005. However, the outlook is decidedly less optimistic across the globe than it was three months ago. German employers reversed their positive third quarter hiring expectations with a negative outlook for the final quarter. Meanwhile, employers in India are again reporting the most optimistic expectations in the survey. Employers in the U.S., Canada and New Zealand expect strong, stable hiring activity to continue for the remainder of the year.

A quarterly comparison of adjusted data shows softer hiring activity can be expected in 13 of 23 countries from October through December. Compared to fourth quarter of 2004, labor markets are expected to improve in only eight of 23 countries. Employers in five countries reported identical hiring outlooks compared to last year at this time.

"In Germany, employers' newfound optimism of last quarter has faded and the employment picture is now similar to one year ago," said Joerres. "The impending election has most likely created uncertainty and a reluctance to hire among businesses, which is typical in a run-up to a major election. One thing is for certain, regardless of who is elected, further labor market reform will be required to fuel Germany's future job creation. In contrast, the Indian labor market continues to be red hot, with continued robust hiring in the Services sector."

The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on December 13, 2005 to report hiring expectations for the first quarter of 2006.

About the Survey

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is conducted quarterly to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the only forward-looking survey of its kind, unparalleled in its size, scope longevity and area of focus. The survey has been running for more than 40 years and is one of the most trusted surveys of employment activity in the world. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is based on interviews with more than 45,000 public and private employers worldwide and is considered a highly respected economic indicator.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey is currently available for 23 countries and territories: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The program began in the United States and Canada in 1962, and the United Kingdom was added in 1966. Mexico and Ireland launched the survey in 2002, and 13 additional countries have been added to the program in 2003. New Zealand joined the program in 2004, and China, India, Switzerland and Taiwan were added in 2005. For more information, visit the Manpower Inc. Web site at http://www.manpower.com , and enter the Press Room.

About Manpower Inc.

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry, offering customers a continuum of services to meet their needs throughout the employment and business cycle. The company specializes in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment; training; career transition and organizational consulting services. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,300 offices in 68 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 customers per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction, enabling customers to concentrate on their core business activities. In addition to the Manpower brand, the company operates under the brand names of Right Management Consultants, Jefferson Wells, Elan and Brook Street. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com .

SOURCE Manpower Inc.

Lisa Tagliapietra, of Manpower Inc., +1-414-906-6540,
lisa.tagliapietra@na.manpower.com

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