Feb 21, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Manpower announced that it has launched a new brand across its global network of 72 countries to align with the range of services the company offers today. As part of the re-brand, Manpower rolled out a new logo, marketing materials and an advertising campaign. This is the first time that Manpower has undergone an extensive re- branding process since the company was founded in 1948.

(LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060221/CGTU012LOGO )

"Manpower has been an innovator in the world of work since its inception, introducing the concept of temporary staffing in the U.S. then exporting it globally," said Jonas Prising, President of Manpower in North America. "Because our business is about meeting and anticipating the needs of employers and job candidates, our service offering has greatly evolved to meet the challenges of today's contemporary world of work. The new brand aligns the company we are today with the image we project in the marketplace and our future aspirations."

Manpower's services include permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. They are offered through five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. As part of the re- branding process, Manpower streamlined its brands from more than 200 worldwide down to only these five to represent its total service offering.

"When you consider the depth of our service offering, the expertise we have built during our 58-year history and the experience gained through our vast international network, Manpower companies have unparalleled insight into the labor market," said Prising. "We understand what's now and what's next in the changing world of work and use this knowledge to help our clients and candidates win."

In conjunction with the brand launch, Manpower is sharing some of this insight with the results of a survey regarding the growing talent shortage. The company surveyed nearly 33,000 employers across 23 countries and territories in late January, including 1,300 in the United States, to determine the extent to which talent shortages are impacting today's labor markets. The survey results, released today, reveal that 44 percent of U.S. employers and 40 percent of employers worldwide are having difficulty filling positions due to the lack of suitable talent available.

The top 10 jobs that U.S. employers are having difficulty filling are:

     -- Sales Representatives
     -- Engineers
     -- Nurses/Healthcare
     -- Technicians (IT, Production)
     -- Accountants
     -- Administrative Assistants
     -- Drivers
     -- Call Center Operators
     -- Machinists (manufacturing, production)
     -- Management/Executive

"We are experiencing growing pains in the U.S. as we shift from a skills- based economy to a knowledge-based economy. Note that the top five jobs that are hardest to fill all require advanced training and skills," said Prising. "The survey results indicate that ample career opportunities exist in the current job market, while the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that seven million Americans are unemployed. We must focus on re-skilling and re- training our workforce so we can bridge the gap between unfilled jobs and unemployed individuals."

Worldwide, employers having the most difficulty finding the right people to fill jobs are those in Mexico (78% report shortages), Canada (66%) and Japan (58%). The talent shortage appears to be least problematic in India, where only 13 percent of employers report difficulty in filling positions.

About Manpower Inc.

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. The $16 billion company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,400 offices in 72 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients 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 across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com and http://www.us.manpower.com .

SOURCE Manpower Inc.

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

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