Employers are cautious on their hiring outlook in the current quarter, as estimated as a result of the Overall Employment Outlook (NEO), which stands at +3%, according to the findings of the Employment Prospects Survey of ManpowerGroup. 29% of employers expect an increase in the number of employees, 26% expect a decrease and 41% expect no change.

"The survey results suggest that employers will be cautious in the next quarter, and particularly cautious about their hiring plans," comments Charalambos Kazantzidis, CEO of ManpowerGroup Greece. ManpowerGroup's Q2 2022 Employment Outlook survey was conducted from January 1 to February 7. A time period capturing the consequences of the 1st lockdown and the unprecedented recession of 2020, as recorded:

• "freezing" of investments
• increase in inflation
• imbalance in the supply-demand balance in the Energy sector
• uncontrolled competition of the Regional natural gas markets
• geopolitical "games" that shaped the difficult situation in relations between Russia and Ukraine

Comparisons by Sector of Economic Activity / Comparisons by geographical regions

Those looking for work in Greece should expect a decrease in hiring intentions for nine (9) out of eleven (11) sectors, compared to the last quarter. Industry/Manufacturing is the best performing sector. Recruiters to record Overall Employment Outlook at +26%. Compared to the previous quarter, those seeking employment in this sector should expect a decrease in Total Employment Outlook of seven (7) percentage points and an increase of twenty (20) points compared to Q2 2021. For Q2 2022 the most weak market expected that of the sector of Construction. Recruiters to record Overall Employment Outlook at -13%. In this sector, a reduction in hiring intentions is expected by a large percentage (-41%) compared to the previous quarter.

In two (2) out of three (3) Greek geographical regions, the recruiters expect a decrease in recruitment during the next quarter. The region with the strongest hiring intentions is the rest of Greece (as opposed to the Greater Attica Region and Northern Greece). Recruiters to Record +10% Overall Employment Prospects. Recording an overall employment outlook of -9%, recruiters in Northern Greece expect the lowest employment outlook in Q2 2022.

International Comparisons

Based on seasonally adjusted analysis, the strongest hiring intentions for April through June are:

• in Brazil
• Sweden
• India
• Colombia
• Mexico

The weakest hiring activity in the coming quarter is expected by employers in:

• Greece
• Poland
• Japan
• Romania
• Taiwan

Compared to the previous quarter, employers report improved employment prospects in six (6) of the forty (40) countries and territories. Singapore and South Africa expect strengthened employment prospects while hiring intentions weaken in 33 out of 43 countries, notably Romania, Argentina and Turkey. In Belgium the intention remains unchanged at +34%, as in the previous quarter.

An increase in the number of employees is expected in twenty-two (22) countries of the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region during the next quarter. Greek employers expect a slight reduction. In a quarterly analysis, the hiring intention weakens in twenty (20) countries, strengthens in two (2) and remains stable in Belgium. Compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, the weakest labor markets are expected to be recorded in

• Greece
• Poland
• Romania

Finally, hiring activity is expected to be strongest in Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands.