Seasonal hiring is expected to hit levels similar to 2011 for an improvement from the recession, and hiring is believed to start earlier this season, according to a survey of hiring managers by employment network Snagajob.
Three in 10 respondents say they plan to hire the same as last year while one in 10 respondents say they expect to hire more staff. Sixteen percent of respondents believe they will hire fewer workers, and 45 percent of respondents say they do not intend to make any hires, which is similar to last year's findings. This reflects improved hiring plans from 2008 when 49 percent of respondents did not anticipate making any hires.
The survey also finds summer jobs are expected to go quickly. In fact, respondents intending to hire summer employees say they will do so on an earlier timetable as 13 percent filled these positions in February, and 11 percent say they will complete their hiring in March. Twenty-three percent of respondents say they will complete their hiring in April, and 79 percent of summer hiring is expected to be finished by the end of May.
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According to the survey's data for the past four years, there is a decline in the number of respondents who believe that the greatest competition for summer jobs among teens or college students are applicants like themselves, and there is more competition from employees entering the work force because of the tough economy.
However, 57 percent of respondents now believe other high school or college students will be the most challenging, which is up six points, and 29 percent of respondents say it will be easy for teens to find seasonal work this year, an increase of nine points over the last two years. Respondents anticipating to hire say they will pay an average of $10.90 per hour. This is statistically unchanged from 2011.
"There's been pick up in the job market lately, and with that, the Snagajob summer job survey shows improving employer confidence because of hiring levels steady with or incrementally better than last year, a tendency to hire earlier and the belief that teens will handle more of the summer job market versus more experienced workers," says Shawn Boyer, CEO of Snagajob. "With less competition from older workers anticipated, wages are expected to be flat. However, teens who want a job should be aggressive and start looking as soon as possible."
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