WASHINGTON, Apr 18, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --

Nearly 10,000 Former Welfare Recipients Have Found Jobs Through Manpower

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN), the global staffing and workforce management solutions firm, today sent two graduates of its Welfare to Work program to the White House where they were guests at an exclusive Welfare to Work Partnership event, which informed President George W. Bush of the challenges and successes of the national Welfare to Work initiative. Jeff Joerres, Chairman and CEO of Manpower Inc., participated in the event and serves on the Welfare to Work Partnership's board of directors.

Sharon Epps of Waukegan, Ill., and Christine Anthony of Gastonia, N.C., mothers who both overcame extraordinary circumstances to leave welfare and enter the workforce, met President Bush and shared with him their welfare to work journeys. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson and U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao also attended to support the success of the Welfare to Work mothers and the companies who employ them.

The women turned to Manpower for help with employment because Manpower nurtures Welfare to Work individuals with the training, mentoring and job placement opportunities they need to leave welfare and enter the workforce. Manpower has a long history of preparing welfare recipients for employment and since 1999 has trained and placed nearly 10,000 former recipients throughout the United States. Epps and Anthony were part of that program.

"Sharon and Christine both were motivated to leave welfare because they felt that being employed would make them positive role models for their children," said Joerres. "Today is especially rewarding for them because it proves they've become outstanding role models not only for their families but for all welfare recipients who need inspiration to leave the system and succeed in the workplace."

Epps has been employed for five years as an administrative assistant at Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill., a global leader in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Anthony has been on assignment for Manpower for almost a year as a human resources clerk at Pathways Mental Health, Gastonia, N.C., a provider of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services.

The Welfare to Work Partnership is a nonpartisan, nonprofit business organization that educates and encourages businesses to hire and retain former welfare recipients. Manpower works closely with the Welfare to Work Partnership to ready individuals on welfare for employment and has been active on its board of directors since its inception in 1996.

About Manpower

Manpower Inc. is a world leader in the staffing industry, providing workforce management services and solutions to customers through 3,900 offices in 61 countries. The firm annually provides employment to two million people worldwide and is an industry leader in employee assessment and training. In North America, Manpower staffing services include administrative, industrial and contact center personnel as well as the assignment of contract professionals in information technology, scientific, finance, engineering, telecommunications and other professional areas under the Manpower Professional brand. More information on the company can be found at http://www.us.manpower.com .

About Welfare to Work Partnership

The Welfare to Work Partnership is a national nonpartisan nonprofit organization created by the American business community to encourage companies to hire and retain former welfare recipients. The Partnership was started in 1997 with five founding companies -- UPS, Sprint, Monsanto, Burger King and United Airlines -- and has grown to include more than 20,000 companies that have offered more than 1.1 million jobs to former welfare recipients.

SOURCE Manpower Inc.