Shortage of Qualified Workers Intensifies as U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits New Two-year Low

MILWAUKEE, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup, (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, says companies should take a holistic approach to their workforces as the mismatch between the talent available and the talent companies need intensifies, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showing the overall March unemployment rate fell from February by 0.1 of a point to 8.8 percent and a higher-than-anticipated 216,000 jobs were created during the month.

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Despite the improvements in hiring, ManpowerGroup is still seeing an air of caution among employers, who are being highly specific about the talent they seek. Although unemployment remains elevated, companies continue to be frustrated in their efforts to find the individuals with the right skills and the right places. With uncertainty continuing, employers remain committed to doing more with less and the convergence of these factors means they are still relying heavily on contingent and flexible workforces.

"With unemployment continuing to fall, there are more reasons for companies to plan out workforce solutions that affect every aspect of their business," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO.  "Employers must continually reassess ways to maximize output from their existing workers, but in such a way that engages their people rather than burning them out. Demand is beginning to rise, resulting in stronger hiring trends but the caution and complexity of the current environment is maintaining a glacial pace. Companies therefore need a dynamic mix of the right solutions and work models to navigate the complexity wrought by the Human Age."

Earlier this week, ManpowerGroup announced its new company rebranding to help clients win in this new age of chaos and complexity. With the notion of doing more with less here to stay, ManpowerGroup has evolved to anticipate clients' needs and position itself for an era where access to talents, as opposed to access to capital, has become the key competitive differentiator and main driver of economic growth. This recognizes that in order to unleash the passion and potential of their workforce, employers need innovative solutions that are tailored to their needs.

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 $19 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 over 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.

Enter the Human Age at: www.manpowergroup.com/humanage.

Follow ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Joerres on Twitter: twitter.com/manpowergroupjj

SOURCE ManpowerGroup