Unemployment is high and workforce reductions continue. But early signs of new hiring in the United States are showing up in a study that found an increase in job postings in energy and chemicals, along with retail and government.
Employers so far in 2009 have plans to hire more workers than in all of 2008
The study by Challenger Gray & Christmas found that as of September, employers planned to hire 169,400 workers, or 43 percent more than in all of 2008.
The greatest increases were planned for the retail, government and non-profit sectors of the economy. But high on the list were chemicals and energy, both of which may reflect hiring for clean tech projects.
Chemical industry hiring is up substantially from last year, though the market place for energy jobs is substantially smaller.
The survey tracks hiring announcements by companies, which make up only a small fraction of employment market overall. Yet Challenger Gray & Christmas says it may suggest companies are finally feeling confident enough to slowly bring on more workers.
