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SHRM Jobs Outlook Survey (JOS) 

The SHRM Jobs Outlook Survey (JOS) Report examines hiring and recruiting trends twice annually in the United States.  It is based on a survey of more than 400 public and private-sector human resource professionals with a direct role in the staffing decisions at their respective companies. Respondents come from small, medium and large companies from around the U.S. and belong to a variety of for-profit, non-profit and government entities.
Key findings from Q2 2012 (April – June) 
 

Organizations' plans to change staff
levels in Q2 2012 (April - June)

%

Increase total staff

35%

Maintain total staff

58%

Decrease total staff

7%

Source:  SHRM Jobs Outlook Survey Q2 2012

 

 

HR professionals’ optimism on
overall job growth in the United
States in Q2 2012 (April – June)

%

Very optimistic about job growth

10%

Somewhat optimistic about job growth

48%

Neither optimistic nor pessimistic about job growth

24%

Somewhat pessimistic about job growth, anticipating job losses

15%

Very pessimistic about job growth, anticipating job losses

3%

Source:  SHRM Jobs Outlook Survey Q2 2012

 

Previous Jobs Outlook Surveys

Q4 2011 (October-December)

Q2 2011 (April-June)

Q4 2010 (October-December)

Q3 2010 (July-September)

Q2 2010 (April-June)

Q1 2010 (January-March)

Q4 2009 (October-December)

Q3 2009 (July-September)

Q2 2009 (April-June)

Q1 2009 (January-March)

  • A total of 58% of respondents have some level of confidence in the U.S. job market for the second quarter of 2012 and expect job growth: 48% are somewhat optimistic about job growth in the United States, and another 10% are very optimistic and anticipate job growth during the quarter. That represents a sharp increase from the fourth quarter of 2011, when a combined 34% of respondents expressed some level of optimism about job growth in the labor market (30% were somewhat optimistic, 4% were very optimistic).

  • In the second quarter of 2012, 35% of companies will conduct hiring, up from 33% in the second quarter of 2011. Among employer categories, large companies (those with 500 or more employees) will be the most likely to add jobs (38%) in the second quarter.

  • In the first quarter of 2012, 40% of companies added jobs, up from 36% in the first quarter of 2011. Another 10% decreased staffing levels in the first quarter of 2012, down slightly from 12% a year ago.



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