Third of Firms Indicate Expansion Plans

Remedy’s Herbster says his big problem isn’t placing qualified employees but finding them in today’s brisk job market. And indeed, Orange County’s economy, with just 3.1% unemployment at last word, seems to be sailing ahead strongly.

A new survey finds that 33% of the companies in the county will add workers this summer, with the wholesale and retail trade, transportation and utilities, and education and service sectors leading the way.

Mixed readings came from the durable goods manufacturing and finance/real estate/insurance areas, according to the survey by Manpower Inc.

Manpower surveys markets across the nation each quarter. Nationally, 30% of the companies responding to the latest survey planned to add staff and 31% in California said they did.

At 59% of the Orange County businesses in the survey, executives plan to hold steady on staff levels. Just 8% thought they were going to reduce the number of workers during July, August and September.

The outlook last summer was similar, with 29% of businesses planning to increase staff. But businesses planning cuts totaled just 3% of those surveyed by Manpower at that time.

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E. Scott Reckard covers workplace issues for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7407 and at [email protected]