Outlook for Rhode Island jobs bleak

Posted on December 1, 2014

The outlook for Rhode Island jobs, particularly in providence, is looking bleak, according to new results from Manpower.

U.S. employers report the strongest Net Employment Outlook since Quarter 1 2008, when the Outlook was +16%. The Quarter 4 2014 Net Employment Outlook of +15% is up from +14% in Quarter 3 2014 and from +13% during Quarter 4 2013.

Globally, hiring plans are mostly positive with employers expecting to finish the year on a more confident note than they did in 2013, as outlooks strengthen in 29 countries and territories year-over-year and soften in just 12. Forecasts, however, are softer when compared with Q3. Fourth-quarter hiring confidence is strongest in India, Taiwan and New Zealand, while the weakest and only negative forecasts are reported in Spain, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic and Finland.

Among employers in the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas, the strongest job prospects are expected in:

• Dallas
• Houston, Texas
• McAllen, Texas
• Phoenix, Ariz.
• San Jose, Calif.

The weakest Outlooks are projected in:

• Akron, Ohio
• Little Rock, Ark.
• Philadelphia
• Spokane, Wash.
• Providence, R.I.
• Hartford, Conn.
• Albany, N.Y.

• Employers in the Midwest report a Net Employment Outlook of +15%, which is the strongest since Quarter 4 2007 when the Outlook was +18%.
• Employers in the South report a Net Employment Outlook of +15%, which is the strongest since Quarter 2 2008 when the Outlook was +17%.
• Employers in the West report a Net Employment Outlook of +16%, which is the strongest since Quarter 1 2008 when the Outlook was +22%