Moderate Forecast For Solano-Napa Job Growth

Moderate Forecast For Solano-Napa Job Growth
By RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN/Times-Herald staff writer
Vallejo Times Herald

The number of jobs in the Solano and Napa county area is expected to grow moderately in the next several months, a new survey reveals.

The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey shows a net job gain for the area of about 20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007, said regional director Laura Cole of Manpower Northern California. This compares to the largest gain statewide of 77 percent in the San Rafael area and the steepest drop of 20 percent in both Bakersfield and central Los Angeles, the survey shows.

More local employers expect to hire in the upcoming quarter than plan to lay workers off, Cole said.

"Temporary employment is somewhat soft nationally, but no decline is expected locally," Cole said. "And permanent placement shows signs of picking up nationally and locally."

Most job gains are in sales and manufacturing, she said.

But while finding capable help is fairly easy now, employers nationally expect it to get more difficult in the next few years, Cole said.

"(We) know there's going to be a talent crunch by 2010, mainly because people are retiring and aren't being replaced by people with the same skill level," Cole said.

Manpower, an employment services firm, conducts its quarterly survey to measure employers' intentions to increase or decrease their work force during the next quarter.

The survey has been conducted for 40 years, according to a prepared statement.

E-mail Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at RachelZ@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6824.