Pacific Staffing
Sacramento Quarterly Employment Trends

Job demand & hiring trends for local companies in the 1st Quarter of 2010

At this time last year employers were using attrition, hiring freezes and massive layoffs to cut workers while some businesses closed their doors forever. After one of the worst years in decades, the Sacramento regional employment market is regaining traction. Usually a slow period for hiring in the Sacramento area Pacific Staffing has learned that forty-six percent (46%) of 100 top area companies surveyed plan to hire in the first quarter, Q1 of 2010.

In Q1 of 2009 more than half of Sacramento regional employers surveyed weren’t hiring anyone, another twenty percent (20%) planning staff cutbacks and three local companies closed and laid-off everyone. In contrast to those conditions, in Q1 2010, just seven percent (7%) of company’s surveyed plan to reduce workforces in January, February or March. This year lay-offs or reductions-in-force are attributed to seasonal change and a merger, not to a failing recessionary economy.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of companies reported hiring for growth needs in the last quarter, Q4 2009. Historically the slowest hiring period of the year across the area, another positive sign for Sacramento regional jobs recovery in the first quarter of 2010 is indicated as twenty percent (20%) of employers polled say they will be motivated to hire for growth and add staff in Q1.

Contacted directly by telephone between November 18 and December 18, 2009, six percent (6%) of hiring is motivated by seasonal demands in Q1.

Skills Demand
Sacramento employers are looking for technical skills first of all. Demand for technical experience was double any other in first quarter with a focus on computer networking and proprietary industry-specific software operations. Employers also seek customer service, sales, manufacturing and shipping experience in the first three months of 2010.

Workforce Challenge?
Among all companies the cost of benefits was noted as the greatest challenge in the New Year. Morale was a significant issue noted by contacts at companies currently not hiring. For the first time in nearly a year, two companies say finding qualified candidates for jobs is becoming an issue.

100 Sacramento Regional Top Companies By Industry:
44% are Service, 31% are Manufacturers, 15% are Construction
and 10% are Retail