Few employers see staff cutbacks in 2012
Published: January 27, 2012
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Few U.S. employers predict significant staff cutbacks in the year ahead, according to a survey by Right Management, the talent and career management experts within ManpowerGroup. The survey was released Jan. 10.
Just three percent of respondents anticipate significant cutbacks or restructurings, and two- thirds expect almost none.
Right Management surveyed senior executives at more than 600 firms across the U.S. representing government, nonprofit, public and private organizations and asked what they expect for the year ahead.
With respect to restructurings and cutbacks, what do you anticipate for your organization in 2012?
- Practically no staff cutbacks: 65%
- Modest number of staff cutbacks: 32%
- Significant staff cutbacks: 3%
“Layoffs had already begun to decline during 2011, a development most employers saw coming a year ago and which was reflected in last year’s trend survey,” said Ron Sims, Right Management’s talent management practice leader for the Middle Atlantic states. “A year ago 52 percent of employers predicted virtually no restructurings in 2011. Nevertheless, lean staffing is now the norm at most organizations.”
Asked about expected hiring in 2012, respondents were slightly optimistic, observed Sims. “In the latest findings one-in-five employers predicts stepped-up hiring in order to drive strategic growth. The majority, 58 percent, predicted just nominal hiring on an as needed basis and 21 percent predict more hiring in order to fill existing gaps in the organization.”
According to Sims, organizational staffing trends will mirror overall U.S. economic trends. “We’ll see employers push growth, but with fewer resources, trying to make do with what they have. This will continue to be a pressurized workplace, and management has to take into account the stress all this creates. Organizations will need to be effective with their talent strategies to nurture employee engagement, productivity and performance with their streamlined workforces.”
Right Management conducted the online survey between November and December 2011 and 631 senior executives and HR professionals participated.
