US businesses expect to boost hiring

 

AFP/File – A jobs sign is seen on the front of the US Chamber of Commerce building in Washington, DC. US businesses …

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US businesses expect to boost hiring in the coming months as their view of the economy continues improves, according to a quarterly survey published Monday.

Over 40 percent of firms expect to increase employment in the next six months, according to the survey by the National Association for Business Economics, which polled 84 companies.

In a sign that the troubled labor market may have turned a corner, 42 percent of firms said they intended to increase staff, versus 29 percent of respondents at the same time last year.

One in three companies said they had a larger work force than a year ago.

"The number of firms expressing positive hiring plans is at a level not seen in over a decade -- a sign of improving labor-market dynamics," said Shawn DuBravac of the Consumer Electronics Association.

"Industry demand continues to move higher, and profit margins are expanding." he added.