It may not come as a surprise, but the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey shows a subdued hiring climate for the second quarter of 2020.

Mindy Stoltz of Manpower says 13 per cent of employers surveyed plan to hire in the next quarter, while three per cent expect cutbacks.

Another 83 percent plan to maintain their current staffing levels in the upcoming quarter.

The remaining one percent are unsure about their hiring intentions.

It’s not all bad though. With seasonal variations removed, Manpower says the St. John’s second quarter Net Employment Outlook of +1 percent is a three percentage point increase over the previous quarterly outlook.

Nationally, Quebec City, Halifax and Belleville, Ontario lead the way in hiring intentions in the months ahead.