Jacksonville Companies in Hiring Mood for Spring

Strategic Insights -

As spring approaches, companies in Jacksonville are showing a optimistic outlook for hiring more employees. According to Manpower Inc.'s quarterly employment outlook survey, 47% of Jacksonville companies interviewed expect to hire more employees from April to June, a significant increase from 33% in the previous quarter. This trend is particularly pronounced in industries such as construction, non-durable goods manufacturing, and finance-insurance-real estate, where job prospects appear best.

Key Takeaways:

  • 47% of Jacksonville companies expect to hire more employees from April to June, a 14% increase from the previous quarter.
  • 7% of Jacksonville firms expect to reduce payrolls in the second quarter.
  • 46% of companies expect to maintain current staff levels.
  • Industries such as construction, non-durable goods manufacturing, transportation-public utilities, finance-insurance-real estate, education, services, and public administration sectors are expected to see the highest job growth.
  • International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) has agreed to buy Ascential Software Corp. for $1.1 billion to expand its data management products.
  • DaimlerChrysler AG has fired two Mercedes Car Group executives and is investigating others for "irregularities" at the German sales division.
  • Office Depot Inc. has hired Steve Odland, former CEO and chairman of AutoZone Inc., as its new chairman and CEO, replacing Bruce Nelson.

Statistics:

  • 47% (of Jacksonville companies) expect to hire more employees from April to June (Manpower Inc. quarterly employment outlook survey).
  • 7% of Jacksonville firms expect to reduce payrolls in the second quarter (Manpower Inc. quarterly employment outlook survey).
  • 46% of companies expect to maintain current staff levels (Manpower Inc. quarterly employment outlook survey).
  • $1.1 billion (IBM's acquisition of Ascential Software Corp.) (BusinessWeek).
  • 2001 (year IBM last acquired part of Ascential) (Bloomberg News).
  • 2004 (year Ascential's data-management business grew 46%) (Bloomberg News).
  • 8% (increase in Office Depot shares) (Associated Press).

Sources:

  • Manpower Inc. quarterly employment outlook survey
  • Bloomberg News
  • Bloomberg News
  • Associated Press
  • BusinessWeek
  • The Times-Union