Colorado employers are expected to hire at a brisk pace in the fourth quarter, according to the
About 24 percent of the companies surveyed statewide expect to hire from October to December, compared with 21 percent of metro Denver employers.
Last year, 20 percent of companies statewide anticipated fourth-quarter hiring, compared with 15 percent of metro Denver employers.
About 8 percent of metro employers expect job cuts in the fourth quarter, 1 percent are unsure, and 70 percent will keep their employment rosters steady, according to spokeswoman Sunny Ackerman.
That yields a net employment outlook of 13 percent. The net employment outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity.
Though hiring may quicken during the holiday season, Ackerman said employers expect job prospects to decline compared to the third quarter when the net employment outlook was 18 percent.
“Compared to one year ago ,when the net employment outlook was 8 percent, local employers expect a bright hiring forecast,” said Ackerman in a statement.
Statewide, 7 percent of companies expect to reduce their payrolls and another 68 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels. One percent are not certain of their hiring plans.
This yields a statewide net employment outlook of 17 percent.
“For the fourth quarter, survey results show employers are slightly less confident about job prospects compared to quarter 3, when the net employment outlook was 19 percent,” said Ackerman. “Compared to one year ago when the net employment outlook was 10 percent, employers anticipate a stronger hiring pace.”
Job prospects in both metro Denver and Colorado are strongest for the fourth quarter in construction, durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, information, and financial activities.
In metro Denver, employers in professional and business services plan to reduce staffing, while hiring in nondurable goods manufacturing, other services and government is expected to remain unchanged.
Statewide, hiring in nondurable goods manufacturing is expected to remain unchanged.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939, hpankratz@denverpost.com or twitter.com/howardpankratz
