The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) for the Q1 2014 is based on responses from 2,100 UK employers and asks whether they intend to increase or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter. The National Employment Outlook (derived by subtracting the % employers anticipating an increase in staffing levels from those expecting a decrease) has fallen marginally to +5% from +6% last quarter.

1. Q1 2014 Manpower Employment
Outlook Survey overview
11 December 2013

2. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
MEOS Q1 2014 Summary
 The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) for the Q1 2014 is
based on responses from 2,100 UK employers and asks whether they
intend to increase or reduce the size of their workforce in the coming quarter
 The National Employment Outlook (derived by subtracting the % employers
anticipating an increase in staffing levels from those expecting a decrease)
has fallen marginally to +5% from +6% last quarter.
 While optimism has declined slightly, the Outlook is still firmly in positive
territory and suggests a net increase in hiring in the first three months of 2014.
 There has been remarkable consistency over the last five quarters – the
Outlook has been respectively 6, 6, 5, 6, 5.
 Finance and Business Services is the the most positive sector – yet again.
 For the first time in six years, all nations and regions are in positive territory.
 Large companies are the most optimistic – for the first time in three years.
Manpower

3. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
MEOS: The last five years
8
National NEO
6
6
6
5
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
5
3
2
Q2
Q3
1
0
0
Q1
Q2
Q3
-2
-4
6
Q4
-1
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
-3
-5
-6
-6
-8
2009
Manpower
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014

4. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Size breakdown
 Companies of all sizes show positive hiring intentions.
 Large businesses are the most optimistic for the first time in three years – the
NEO is +15%
 Medium businesses positivity fell by three points to +12%. Small business
optimism rose one point to +10%.
 Micro businesses report a two point drop in hiring intentions.
QoQ change
5
National
Micro
Small
-1
6
1
1Q '14
3
11
12
Medium
Large
Manpower
12
12
4Q '13
-2
+1
15
-3
15
+3

5. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Sector breakdown
QoQ change
5
National
-1
6
11
Business/finance services
9
Utilities
Transport & comms
5
+2
-2
7
4
4
Public & social
0
Wholesale, retail etc
Manpower
+3
6
4
Mining & quarrying
Construction -6
+3
6
3
Farming, forestry, fishing
-5
-4
-4
13
7
4
Manufacturing
15
n/c
-4
4
1Q '14
4Q '13
-1

6. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Public/private sector breakdown*
 Private sector hiring intentions (+3%) remain stronger than public sector
intentions (0%), but private sector intentions have fallen more sharply.
 Optimism among not-for-profits fell further, to +1% from +5%.
QoQ change
5
National
3
Private sector
Public sector
Not for profit
-1
6
-5
8
0
-1
1
1
5
1Q '14
4Q '13
-4
*Data not seasonally adjusted
Manpower

7. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Public/private sector breakdown*
Private sector
10
8
8
6
5
5
4
7
6
5
6
5
3
3
3
3
2
1
0
0
Public sector
-2
-2
0
0
-2
-2
-3
-4
-6
-8
-6
-6
-7
Q2
Q3
Q4
2011
Manpower
Q1
Q2
Q3
2012
Q4
Q1
Q2
2013
Q3
Q4
Q1
2014
*Data is not seasonally adjusted

8. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Regions and nations summary
• Hiring intentions in the East of England fell by 2 points but are still top of the
regional leader board at +11%.
• Yorkshire and Humberside rose 10 points from -1% in the previous quarter
to +9% this time – its highest level in over three years.
• Optimism remained strong in the North East at +7%, though this represents a
3 point fall compared to the previous quarter. It holds onto its spot as the
UK’s third most upbeat region.
• Fourth in the regional pecking order is the South West, where the Outlook fell
marginally to +6% this quarter from +7% last time.
• The East Midlands, West Midlands, North West and South East are all on
+5% this quarter. Except for the North West – where confidence has dropped
sharply from +14% last quarter – all the other regions showed relatively small
declines in optimism.
Manpower

9. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Regions and nations summary continued
• Northern Ireland is also on +5%, but this represents a sharp increase from 2% in Q4, 2013 when it was the least optimistic region.
• Scotland and Wales recorded small falls in optimism. Wales fell 3 points to
+1% (making it equal most pessimistic region), while Scotland dropped a
single point to +2%.
•
London recorded perhaps the most surprising Outlook this quarter, with
optimism falling from +3% to +1%. Only six months ago the capital was one of
Britain’s most upbeat regions on +11%, but employer confidence has taken a
battering since then.
Manpower

10. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
Regions and nations breakdown
5
Total
QoQ change
-1
6
11
East
Yorks & Humberside
9
-1
7
North East
6
South West
Northern Ireland
13
+10
-3
10
-1
7
5
-2
West Midlands
5
South East
5
East Midlands
5
+7
5
North West
2
Scotland
Wales
London
Manpower
1
-1
6
+1
7
14 -9
-1
6
-2
3
1
-3
4
3
-2
1Q '14
4Q '13
-2

11. Contingent and Permanent Recruitment Workforce Solutions
UK employment intention heat map
Outlook
-10>
-9 to -10
-7 to -8
-5 to -6
+2
-3 to -4
-1 to -2
+7
0
+5
1 to 2
+9
3 to 4
+5
5 to 6
+5
+1
+5
+1
7 to 8
9 to 10
+11
10<
+6
Manpower
+5
+13