The survey found that Pierce County employers are more optimistic about hiring and compensation levels in 2011 compared to 2010. Specifically: - 37.6% of employers anticipate hiring more full-time employees in 2011, up from 22.2% in 2010. - The net outlook for full-time hiring stands at 25.6%, a significant increase over 2010. - 32.6% of employers plan to increase wages, up from 25.8% in 2010. - The net outlook for salary levels is 29.6%, markedly higher than the 2010 level. - Employers do not intend to reduce part-time needs despite planned full-time increases, signaling that overall hiring will increase substantially

1. SURVEY – Hiring Plans for 2011
Pierce County, WA
December 2010
The Workforce Central Business Connection
4650 Steilacoom Blvd, Bldg 19
Lakewood, WA 98499
253-583-8800
www.TheBusinessConnection.net

2. SURVEY BACKGROUND AND HIGHLIGHTS
The Workforce Central Business Connection’s 2011 Hiring Plans Survey was conducted in
November/December 2010.
Pierce County companies that currently use Business Connection recruiting, testing, and training
services, and additional area employers, were invited to complete the web-based survey. Projected
hiring data was obtained from a total of 137 firms.
While other surveys primarily target national or state data on job-seekers, this survey focuses on
reporting results that are specific to employers from all sectors operating in Pierce County. Thus, the
survey provides a current snapshot of Pierce County employers only.
Key statistics for 2011 from responding employers in this year’s survey:
37.6% anticipate hiring more FTE’s (2010 results – 22.2%)
21.5% anticipate hiring more PTE’s (2010 results – 16.8%)
32.6% anticipate increasing wages (2010 results – 25.8%)
33.1% plan to implement flexible work arrangements (2010 results – 34.4%)
16.1% plan to hire freelance or contract workers (2010 results – 20.8%)

3. Please indicate your primary industry category
1.5%
13.9% 12.4%
Association
Construction
Education Services
6.6%
Financial Activities
Government
0.7%
15.3% Healthcare
3.6% Leisure & Hospitality
Manufacturing
2.9% Media
Professional & Business Services
1.5% Technology
5.8%
Transportation & Warehousing
0.7% 7.3% Utilities
Wholesale & Retail Trade
Other (please specify)
2.9%
2.2%
22.6%

4. Other categories identified :
- human services
- commercial real estate - consumer product repairs
- petroleum recycling - tuxedo rental
- non-profit - cold storage
- construction, demolition, debris recycle - rental
- commercial printing - consultant (const. materials testing)
- job training - animal service
- planning and engineering - distribution
- shelter - auto processor
- office furniture - janitorial office/restroom cleaning

5. Indicate your sector
70.0%
62.5%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
14.0%
12.5%
9.6%
10.0%
1.5%
0.0%
Privately owned for- Publicly owned for- Non-profit Government Other (please specify)
profit profit

6. Indicate your staff size
80.0%
71.4%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.3%
20.0%
10.0% 8.3%
0.0%
1-99 100-499 500 +

7. Indicate your location
0.7% 0.7%
10.9% 9.5%
0.0%
3.6% 2.9% Bonney Lake
0.7% Dupont
Fife
Fircrest
9.5%
Frederickson
Gig Harbor
Graham
0.7%
Lakewood
Orting
5.1%
Puyallup
0.0% Steilacoom
Sumner
8.0% Tacoma
University Place
Other (please specify)
47.4%

8. Other locations identified :
- county & cities
- unincorporated Pierce County - Fife and Kent
- Tacoma and Fife - Puyallup since November 2010
- Parkland - Milton
- Buckley - WA & OR
- Fort Lewis - Joint Base Lewis McChord
- Herron Island - Eatonville
- Ft Lewis - Milton

9. How do you anticipate total FULL TIME employment
levels at your location to change in 2011 as compared
to 2010?
45.0%
40.0% 38.3%
37.6%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
12.0% 12.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Increase Decrease No Change Don't Know

10. Data Surprise
The NET outlook* for 2011 FTE hiring More firms indicate uncertainty about
stands at 25.6%, a significant increase FTE hiring plans in 2011; 12.0% in 2011 as
over the 2010 NET outlook of -0.8%. compared to only 7.9% in 2010.
Observation
With a 26.4% improvement in the NET outlook for FTE hiring, it is apparent
that Pierce County employers see enough positive indicators to signal that
conditions are right for strategic growth and increased capacity.
* NET outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers who
anticipate increased hiring and subtracting the percentage of employers
who anticipate decreased hiring in the coming year.

11. How do you anticipate total PART TIME employment
levels at your location to change in 2011 as compared
to 2010?
60.0%
55.6%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
21.5%
20.0%
11.9% 11.1%
10.0%
0.0%
Increase Decrease No Change Don't Know

12. Data Surprise
The NET outlook* for 2011 PTE hiring More firms indicate uncertainty about
stands at 9.6%, a slight increase over the PTE hiring plans in 2011; 11.1% in 2011 as
2010 NET outlook of 6.4%. compared to only 6.4% in 2010.
Observation
With a 3.2% improvement in the NET outlook for PTE hiring, it seems that
Pierce County employers do not intend to reduce PTE needs despite planned
FTE increases, which means overall hiring should increase significantly.
* NET outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers who
anticipate increased hiring and subtracting the percentage of employers
who anticipate decreased hiring in the coming year.

13. How do you anticipate salary levels at your location
to change in 2011 as compared to 2010?
60.0%
50.0% 48.1%
40.0%
32.6%
30.0%
20.0%
16.3%
10.0%
3.0%
0.0%
Increase Decrease No Change Don't Know

14. Data Surprise
The NET outlook* for 2011 salary level More firms indicate uncertainty about
stands at 29.6%, a signifcant increase FTE hiring plans in 2011; 16.3% in 2011 as
over the 2010 NET outlook of 17.7%. compared to only 8.1% in 2010.
Observation
With an 11.9% improvement in the NET outlook for salary levels, employers
who have become used to “bargain basement” salaries may begin to lose
employees to firms willing to offer more attractive compensation packages.
* NET outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers who
anticipate increasing compensation and subtracting the percentage of
employers who anticipate decreasing compensation in the coming year.

15. Indicate which flexible working arrangements you
plan to implement in 2011. (select all that apply)
80.0%
70.0% 66.9%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0% 16.1%
14.5%
10.0% 6.5% 7.3%
2.4% 2.4%
0.0%
None Alternate Telecommuting Compressed Summer hours Job sharing Sabbaticals
scheduling workweeks

16. Observation
In 2010, 65.5% of responding employers indicated no intention to employ
flexible working arrangements.
For 2011, 69.9% indicate no intent to use flexible working arrangements.
The modest 4.4% decrease in flexible working arrangement suggests that
Pierce County employers are no longer turning to “just get by” strategies.

17. Indicate which recruitment tools you anticipate using
in 2011 to find potential employees. (select all that
apply)
70.0%
59.0%
60.0%
50.0% 48.0%
40.0%
34.0%
30.0% 27.0%
25.0% 25.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Online Newspaper Online classifieds Career fairs/hiring Staffing Social networking
recruitment sites classifieds events firms/recruiters sites

18. Observation
Online resources for recruiting remain the most popular tools for Pierce
County employers, while classified advertising is in use by approximately
one-third of the regions employers to list the job openings.
Other locations identified :
- interns and volunteers
- WorkSource - Labor Ready
- WorkForce - networking
- local Union hall - word of mouth
- we receive resumes daily - Professional associates
- we would call people we laid off - employee referrals
- newsletters to members - walk-ins and referrals
- our website - all of the above

19. Do you anticpate hiring freelance or contract workers
in 2011?
16.1%
27.0%
Yes
No
Don't Know
56.9%

20. Observation
In 2010, 20.8% of responding employers indicated they intended to hire
either freelancers or contract workers.
For 2011, only 16.1% indicate they intended to hire either freelancers or
contract workers.
The slight 4.7% decrease may be attributable to conversion of these hires
into either FTE or PTE by Pierce County employers, or it may simply be an
indicator of less “on call” help required in the coming year.

21. SUMMARY
Survey results suggest significant growth of FTE positions in Pierce County during the
coming year, while PTE growth will be moderate.
Responses show that employers intend to increase salary levels in 2011. This could
indicate employers are beginning to offer more attractive wages to make sure valued
employees are not lured away by firms seeking to staff up during the next 12 months.
There is little or no anticipated change to the use of flexible working arrangements for
2011; employers that currently use these strategies will likely continue using them and,
perhaps, establish them as a standard policy.
Overall, the use of freelance and contract workers will diminish slightly. When
combined with anticipate FTE growth, it is reasonable to believe than some of the
reduction may be caused by freelance/contract transition to employee status.
One concern: uncertainty about future hiring plans has increased; twice as
many employers indicated they are not sure what they will do in 2011.