According to the recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, job seekers can remain excited about new job opportunities in India as India’s employers expect the hiring momentum to continue at a robust pace going into the fourth quarter. With a Net Employment Outlook of +38% (seasonally adjusted data), India’s Outlook declines by three percentage points quarter-over-quarter, but improves by eight percentage points when compared to Q4 2009. Job seekers in the Public Administration & Education sector (+45%) and the Services Sector (+40%) can look forward to the most favourable hiring environment in the next three months of the year. Meanwhile, the weakest – but still strong – hiring pace is reported by Transportation & Utilities and Wholesale & Retail trade sector employers, with both the sectors reporting Outlooks of +22%. Employers in India continue to forecast one of the strongest global labour markets. The hiring pace is also expected to improve from the fourth quarter of 2009 in all of the Asia Pacific countries and territories surveyed.

The survey of 5,395 employers across India indicates that India’s labor market continues to be bright. The seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook in India has dipped by three percentage points quarter-over-quarter, but has improved by eight percentage points year over- year.

Year-over-Year Comparison

Employers in five industry sectors anticipate a stronger hiring pace in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to this quarter last year. Sharp improvements are reported by employers in the Public Admin & Education sector, the Finance, Insurance and Real Estate sector, and the Services sector. Similarly, employers in all four regions are reporting stronger Net Employment Outlook in comparison to Q4 of 2009.

Sectoral Trend

Hiring optimism is strongest among employers in the Public Administration & Education (+45%) industry sector. The sector’s Outlook is eight percentage points stronger quarter-over quarter and is 14 percentage points stronger year-over-year. Employers in the Finance, Insurance & Real Estate (+34%) sector report a two percentage point decline in Net Employment Outlook over last quarter. Employers in the Manufacturing (+31%) industry sector are also reporting a 12 percentage points decline in their quarter-over-quarter and an improvement of five percentage points year-over-year. Employers in the Services sector (+40%) also report a decrease of three percentage points quarter-over-quarter, but a considerable improvement of 12 percentage points year-over-year.

Regional Trends

Employers in three regions in India report an improved employment Outlook in a quarter-over quarter comparison. Employers in the South (+41%) region report the country’s strongest hiring expectations, where the Outlook is unchanged quarter-over-quarter, but improves by 11 percentage points year-over-year. The Outlook in the West (+32%) declines 13 percentage points quarter-over-quarter and improves four percentage points year-over-year. The forecast in the North (+37%) improves by one percentage points quarter-over-quarter and nine percentage points year-over-year. Similarly, employer hiring intentions in the East (+36%) improves by seven percentage points quarter-over-quarter and four percentage points year over-year.