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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 Q4 2011 (October – December) 
 

Organizations' plans to change staff
levels in Q4 2011 (October - December)

%

Increase total staff

37%

Maintain total staff

53%

Decrease total staff

10%

Source:  SHRM Jobs Outlook Survey Q4 2011

 

 

HR professionals’ optimism on
overall job growth in the United
States in Q4 2011 (October – December)

%

Very optimistic about job growth

4%

Somewhat optimistic about job growth

30%

Neither optimistic nor pessimistic about job growth

30%

Somewhat pessimistic about job growth, anticipating job losses

30%

Very pessimistic about job growth, anticipating job losses

6%

Source:  SHRM Jobs Outlook Survey Q4 2011

 

Previous Jobs Outlook Surveys

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 34% of respondents have some level of confidence in the U.S. job market for the fourth quarter of 2011 and expect job growth: 30% are somewhat optimistic about job growth in the United States, and another 4% are very optimistic and anticipate job growth during the quarter. That represents a steep drop from the second quarter of 2011, when a combined 57% of respondents expressed some level of optimism about job growth in the labor market (53% were somewhat optimistic, 4% were very optimistic).

  • In the fourth quarter of 2011, 37% of respondents will conduct hiring, up from 26% in the fourth quarter of 2010. Among employer categories, medium-sized companies (those with 100 to 499 employees) will be the most likely to add jobs (48%) in the fourth quarter.

  • In the third quarter of 2011, 44% of respondents added jobs, up from 38% in the third quarter of 2010. During the same time, 13% of companies decreased staffing levels, down slightly from 17% a year ago.



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