Flexible Work Models Remain The Best Option For Fulfilling Demand, ManpowerGroup Reports

U.S. Bureau of Labor Reports That U.S. Jobless Rate Dips to 8.1 Percent

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Sep 07, 2012, 11:57 ET

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, advises U.S. companies to focus on building out flexible work models over the long term, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that the overall August jobless rate dipped to 8.1 percent. The U.S. private sector added 96,000 new jobs last month, while summer jobs figures were revised down, and from 64,000 to 45,000 in June to 163,000 to 141,000 in July.

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"Flexible work models – which include temporary, part-time, full-time and virtual workers – remain the best option for an economy beset by wildly fluctuating demand," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO. "U.S. employers face extreme uncertainty from what's happening in the Euro Area and with the U.S. general election two months away, yet demand exists and employers continue to need the right workers at the right time to meet that demand.

"A flexible work model that enables companies to react quickly to demand and that aligns with companies' business strategies is essential for winning in today's volatile economy," Joerres added. "In turn, individuals benefit from flexible work options, as they gain on-the-job training and experience – while earning income."

Employment in food services and drinking places increased by 28,000 last month and by 298,000 over the past 12 months. Finance and insurance added 11,000 jobs; health care added 17,000. Professional and technical services added 27,000 jobs, including 11,000 in computer systems design and related services and 9,000 in management and technical consulting services.

According to ManpowerGroup's 2012 Talent Shortage Survey results, 49% of U.S. employers struggle to fill mission-critical positions. Skilled trades, engineering and IT positions continue to place on this list year after year.

Also, 56% of employers, worldwide, indicate unfilled positions are expected to have little or no impact on key constituents, such as customers and investors. This proportion has grown considerably worldwide from 36 percent in 2011 to 56 percent in 2012.

About ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup™ (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, creates and delivers high-impact solutions that enable our clients to achieve their business goals and enhance their competitiveness. With over 60 years of experience, our $22 billion company creates unique time to value through a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions that help clients win in the Human Age. These solutions cover an entire range of talent-driven needs from recruitment and assessment, training and development, and career management, to outsourcing and workforce consulting. ManpowerGroup maintains the world's largest and industry-leading network of nearly 3,900 offices in 80 countries and territories, generating a dynamic mix of an unmatched global footprint with valuable insight and local expertise to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, across all industry sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, local, multinational and global companies. By connecting our deep understanding of human potential to the ambitions of clients, ManpowerGroup helps the organizations and individuals we serve achieve more than they imagined – because their success leads to our success. And by creating these powerful connections, we create power that drives organizations forward, accelerates personal success and builds more sustainable communities. We help power the world of work. The ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup™ Solutions, Manpower®, Experis™ and Right Management®. Learn more about how the ManpowerGroup can help you win in the Human Age at www.manpowergroup.com.

ManpowerGroup is the most trusted brand in the industry, and was once again the only company in our industry to be named to the Ethisphere Institute's 2012 World's Most Ethical Companies list for our proven commitment to ethical business practices, including an outstanding commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

In January 2011, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, ManpowerGroup announced the world has entered the Human Age, where talent has replaced capital as the key competitive differentiator. This concept of talentism as the new capitalism continues to resonate and was echoed as a core theme of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Learn more about this new age at www.manpowergroup.com/humanage

Gain access to ManpowerGroup's extensive thought leadership papers, annual Talent Shortage surveys and the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, one of the most trusted indices of employment activity in the world, via the ManpowerGroup World of Work Insight iPad application. This thought leadership app explores the challenges faced by employers navigating the changing world of work and provides in-depth commentary, analysis, insight and advice on strategies for success.

Follow ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres on Twitter: twitter.com/manpowergroupjj. Joerres is one of only 20 Fortune 500 CEOs who leverages a Twitter account to get his message out.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup