Hauliers are less enthusiastic about taking on new staff than at any time since the end of 2005, according to the latest employment survey by recruitment company Manpower. The survey, conducted in the first quarter of 2008, found that although 5% of transport employers intend to take on staff from April to June, 7% say they will be laying staff off, giving a balance of -2%.
Simon Edwards, Manpower's head of driving, says: "Over the last
few years the increasing cost of fuel has become a growing concern to the transport industry and clearly current pricing levels have further affected the overall costs of the logistics process. This may suggest why some companies are reluctant to take on more staff at the moment."
While hauliers painted a gloomy picture of shrinking staff numbers in the next three months, other business sectors were more upbeat. Some 12% more utilities companies expect to take staff on than lay staff off, with manufacturing (+8%) and the hotel and retail sector (+5%) also recording strong balances.
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