Slovak Employers Report Fair Hiring Prospects for 2Q 2021
Improvement of the hiring climate in almost all sectors, all regions and organisation-sizes quarter-over-quarter
Bratislava (9 March 2021) – According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey released today, Slovakian employers report fair hiring prospects with a Net Employment Outlook (NEO)[1] of +6% for the coming quarter. Once the data is adjusted to allow for seasonal variation, the Outlook stands at +3%. Hiring prospects are 3 percentage points stronger in comparison with the prior quarter, but dip by 2 percentage points year-over-year.
Interviewing was carried out during the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak. The survey findings for the second quarter of 2021 are likely to reflect the impact of the global health emergency and may be notably different to previous quarters.
“Additional research* concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hiring climate shows cautiously optimistic recovery. Half of Slovak employers (51%) state no changes to hiring levels since COVID-19. This is compared with 17% of employers stating to return to pre-COVID-19 or higher hiring levels by the end of 2021. Only a small part (3%) of Slovak employers doesn´t ever expect to achieve hiring levels of pre-pandemic.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Slovak employers affirm to maintain the same number of employees in each category (full-time worker, part-time workers, contractors/consultants, temporary workers, freelance workers).
Concerning the work forms in the next 6-12 months, an absolute majority (61%) of Slovak employers plan workplace-based working all/most of the time. A quarter (26%) plan to apply a mix of remote working and workplace-based working. Only 3% plans to apply remote work all or most of the time.
When asked what vaccination policy they will practice, Slovak employers answered as follows: most of the Slovak employers (39%) have no plans to introduce a fixed policy on employee vaccination and will let it up to individuals to decide. 30% of the employers will urge vaccination by highlighting the benefits but not mandate. Only 7% said they required all staff to be vaccinated.
The above mentioned percentage values correspond with the trends in the EMEA region”, states Zuzana Rumiz, General Manager of ManpowerGroup Slovakia.
Industry Sector Comparisons
Employers in four of the seven industry sectors anticipate job gains during the upcoming quarter. The strongest hiring pace is forecast in the Construction sector, where the Net Employment Outlook is +11%, while the Wholesale & Retail Trade sector Outlook of +10% reflects cautiously optimistic hiring plans. Elsewhere, employers expect some workforce growth with Outlooks of +9% and +8% in the Finance & Business Services sector and the Other Services sector, respectively. However, employers in three sectors expect to trim payrolls, most notably in the Restaurants & Hotels sector, where the Outlook is -6%. Muted Outlooks of -5% and -3% are reported for the Manufacturing sector and the Other Production sector, respectively.
Hiring sentiment strengthens in all seven industry sectors when compared with the previous quarter. A considerable increase of 17 percentage points is reported in the Restaurants & Hotels sector, while the Construction sector Outlook is 12 percentage points stronger. Noteworthy improvements of 8 and 6 percentage points are reported in the Other Services sector and the Finance & Business Services sector, respectively, while Manufacturing sector employers report an increase of 4 percentage points.
When compared with this time one year ago, hiring intentions weaken in four of the seven industry sectors, most notably by 6 percentage points in the Manufacturing sector and by 5 percentage points in the Restaurants & Hotels sector. However, slight improvements are reported in three sectors, including the Construction sector and the Other Services sector, where Outlooks are 3 percentage points stronger.
Regional Comparisons
Employers in all four regions expect to grow payrolls during the second quarter of 2021. The strongest hiring pace is anticipated in Bratislava, where the Net Employment Outlook stands at +5%. Elsewhere, slow-paced hiring activity is forecast in Western and Eastern Slovakia, with Outlooks of +4% and +3%, respectively, while the Outlook for the Central region is +1%.
Hiring intentions strengthen in all four regions when compared with the previous quarter. A considerable improvement of 11 percentage points is reported in Bratislava, while the Outlook for Central Slovakia is 5 percentage points stronger. In both the Eastern and Western regions, hiring sentiment strengthens by 2 percentage points.
When compared with the second quarter of 2020, employers in the Eastern region report a decline of 5 percentage points, while the Outlook for Western Slovakia decreases by 3 percentage points. Meanwhile, hiring plans remain relatively stable in both the Central region and Bratislava.
Organization-Size Comparisons
Workforce gains are anticipated in three of the four organization size categories during the April to June period. The strongest labour market is expected by Large employers with a Net Employment Outlook of +10%, while Outlooks of +3% and +1% are reported for the Medium- and Small-size categories, respectively. Meanwhile, Micro employers anticipate a flat labour market with an Outlook of 0%.
In a comparison with the first quarter of 2021, Large employers report an improvement of 9 percentage points, and Outlooks are 7 and 4 percentage points stronger in the Medium- and Micro-size categories, respectively. However, Small employers report a decline of 2 percentage points.
Hiring plans weaken for Medium- and Small-size employers when compared with this time one year ago, declining by 5 and 2 percentage points, respectively. Elsewhere, Outlooks are unchanged in both the Micro- and Large-size categories.
Global overview
The strongest hiring prospects for the next three months are reported in Taiwan (+24%), the U.S. (+18%), Australia (+17%) and Singapore (+17%). The weakest hiring intentions are reported in Panama (-8%), the UK (-5%) and South Africa (-5%).
Note to Editors
Commentary is based on seasonally adjusted data where available.
About the Survey
The global leader in innovative workforce solutions, ManpowerGroup releases the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey quarterly to measure employers’ intentions to increase or decrease the number of employees in their workforce during the next quarter. It is the longest running, most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, polling over 42,000 employers in 43 countries and territories. For 2Q 2021, sample sizes are smaller than other quarters, reflecting the impact of the global health emergency so total number of interviews is significantly lower than normal in some countries.
Slovakia is one of 43 countries and territories participating in the quarterly measurement of employer hiring intentions. The survey for Quarter 2 2021 was conducted by interviewing a representative sample of 616 employers in Slovakia and asking the same question: “How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of June 2021 as compared to the current quarter?”
The global ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey has been running for more than 55 years and uses a validated methodology in accordance with the highest standards in market research. This survey helps to identify the hiring intentions of both regional and industry sector employers and facilitates preparation for labor market pressures. The survey serves as a bellwether of labor market trends and activities and is regularly used to inform the Bank of England’s Inflation Reports, as well as a regular data source for the European Commission, informing its EU Employment Situation and Social Outlook report the Monthly Monitor. ManpowerGroup’s independent survey data is also sourced by financial analysts and economists around the world to help determine where labor markets are headed.
The latest survey 2Q 2021 – conducted January 2021 – is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key economic indicator. The next survey will be released June 8, 2021 and will report hiring expectations for Q3 2021.
View the complete 2Q 2021 survey results: www.manpowergroup.com/meos
About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions – creates substantial value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2020 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the eleventh year – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent. See how ManpowerGroup is powering the future of work: www.manpowergroup.com.
About ManpowerGroup Slovakia
Through a network of six offices, we provide staff for around 500 clients. With employment opportunities in the public and private sector, on both a permanent and temporary basis, we make it easy for people to find employment and for companies to find staff with the skills they need. Solutions include permanent and temporary positions, holiday, maternity or sick coverage, through to large workforce transformation and outsourcing contracts. More information available on www.manpower.sk.
[1] The Net Employment Outlook is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers anticipating a decrease in hiring activity from the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in employment. Seasonal adjustment is then applied to the data.
*259 Slovak employers were interviewed, January 2021
