Employers in Atlantic Canada expect a brisk hiring climate in the first quarter of this year.

That is according to a new employment outlook survey by staffing firm ManpowerGroup.

Spokesperson Mindy Stoltz said around two-in-five employers plan to hire this quarter.

Another two-in-five plan to maintain their current staffing levels, while 16 per cent expect cutbacks.

Atlantic Canada’s first-quarter Net Employment Outlook, adjusted for seasonal variation, stands at +33 per cent.

That is a three percentage point decrease from the previous quarter and a five percentage point decrease from the same time last year.

“This indicates a bright hiring pace for the upcoming months,” Stoltz said in a news release.

The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity.

Nationwide, employers in all industry sectors surveyed expect to add staff in the first quarter, according to ManpowerGroup.

About 46 per cent of employers intend to increase their staffing levels in the first quarter while 13 per cent anticipate cutbacks.

The national Net Employment Outlook is +34 per cent, a three percentage point increase from the previous quarter and a three percentage point decrease from the same period last year.

“Employers across Canada will continue to search for skilled workers in the first quarter of 2023,” said Darlene Minatel, Country Manager of ManpowerGroup Canada.

“A tight labour market is to be expected during times of high inflation, as companies try to meet demand.”