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Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Shows Strongest Q2 2016 Hiring Confidence is in India

According to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, released by ManpowerGroup (the world's workforce expert), Q2 2016 hiring confidence is strongest in India, Japan, Taiwan, Colombia and Guatemala for the second quarter, with the weakest hiring forecasts being reported in Brazil, France and Italy.

Faced with the slowdown in China and ongoing turmoil in commodity markets, most employers across the globe appear to be taking the measured approach of adding staff only when needed.

"We believe parts of the global economy - including some countries in Asia and Latin America - will continue to experience softening as the result of demographic and economic influences," said Jonas Prising, Chairman & CEO, ManpowerGroup.

"Increasing globalization and technological progress are having a transformative impact on societies, companies and workers, and changing the way work gets done. In a labor market increasingly dictated by skills, 'learnability' - the ability to grow and adapt skill sets - is becoming a key determinant of success for both businesses and individuals."

In the Asia Pacific region, employers in India report the most optimistic regional and global hiring plans for the third consecutive quarter, while the region's least favorable hiring intentions are reported by Australian employers.

Hiring plans in China decline in comparison to both the prior quarter and Quarter 2 2015. Outlooks are positive in all industry sectors and regions, but are among the weakest reported in the history of the survey.

Of the more than 58,000 employers interviewed globally, 39 of 42 countries and territories anticipate increasing their staffing levels in Q2 2016. Compared to Q1 2016, hiring prospects strengthen in 8 of 42 countries and territories, and decline in 22. Compared with last year at this time, outlooks improve in 12 countries and territories, weaken in 23 and are unchanged in 7.

In the EMEA region, employers in Bulgaria report the most optimistic second-quarter hiring intentions. However, talent demand remains restrained in Germany where the forecast dips to its least optimistic level in more than two years, while French employers report the weakest hiring plans, and the region's only negative forecast.

In the Americas region, employers in Colombia, Guatemala and the U.S. report the most optimistic second-quarter hiring plans, while employers in Brazil report an overall decline in payrolls as well as the weakest hiring plans in the region and across the globe.