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Many companies are starting to hire again, even if it’s only for part-time help. HR agencies across West Michigan report clients are adding positions especially as the spring season kicks into gear. COURTESY PHOTO

By Karen Gentry | MiBiz
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WEST MICHIGAN — Just like the crocuses of spring, more jobs are sprouting up in West Michigan, boosted by lean businesses and cautiously optimistic hiring managers.

Hiring has already picked up for tax preparation positions, tourism and hospitality jobs, real estate mortgage positions and “spring cleaning” project roles such as database management and administrative projects, according to Robert Half International.

Rebecca Westmaas, branch manager with Robert Half in Grand Rapids, said from a hiring standpoint, there have been more requests for temporary workers with businesses optimistic although cautious about hiring new permanent employees.

“There’s been an increase in the number of positions in the professional and temporary sector. We’ve seen a nice uptick in February and March,” Westmaas told MiBiz.

Robert Half in Grand Rapids places a lot of workers in accounting and finance as well as administrative support positions such as data entry and receptionists. Westmaas reported that payroll jobs in Michigan increased by 71,000 jobs from February 2010 to February 2011.

“Over 80 percent anticipate they would be increasing their staff in the months to come. Managers are starting to see the need to slowly add back to their team because they’re running so lean right now,” Westmaas said. “What’s been surprising is that it hasn’t just been in the service industry. We’ve seen an uptick in manufacturing clients.”

Many smaller to mid-sized companies are starting to add staff, she said.

Robert Half has received more requests for human resources positions that were hit heavily in the last couple of years. Westmaas said some companies had two to three HR professionals and downsized to one in many cases. Requests for customer service positions have also grown with companies focused on customer service, marketing and advertising. Westmaas said spring is a hot time for trade shows with more need for individuals to work the shows.

Robert Half is seeing multiple hires for positions in call centers and mortgage companies and sometimes for IT positions. Manufacturers may need to add six to eight people, but may only need them for a period of time.

Becky Slager, Manpower Inc. area manager for Kalamazoo and St. Joseph County, said business for her company has picked up over 40 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter in 2010. She said last year was a year of recovery that got progressively better and carried into 2011.

“We definitely had a very good first quarter and we are seeing a significant increase in all areas of industry including flexible staffing, direct hire and training and assessments,” Slager told MiBiz. “The area that’s picked up the most significantly has been flexible staffing.”

Many companies may see an increase in orders but are not sure if the growth will be sustained, so they will often hire a group of people for a project before making any long term hiring decisions. Slager said manufacturing is the area that has increased the most for Manpower. She said many businesses often make a strategic decision to keep a mix of 60 percent permanent employees and 40 percent flexible or temporary.

“This allows them to manage their costs more effectively based on the uncertainty of the economy,” Slager said.

Battle Creek-based EmploymentGroup has seen great improvement in the job market for automotive, heavy truck, aerospace, food processing, building products, warehousing/transportation and furniture, according to President Mark Lancaster. He said business for EmploymentGroup grew 90 percent in 2010 compared to 2009 and improved another 69 percent the first quarter of 2010 compared to 2011. EmploymentGroup’s main markets are Lansing, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

“Through the great recession, West Michigan has been the bright spot in Michigan,” Lancaster said.

A typical client for EmploymentGroup is a high-end manufacturing company that needs flexible workers to meet business ups and downs or trial hire employees. Lancaster noted 894 workers were hired as permanent employees last year, and this year 420 had already been hired into customer companies by mid-April.

Westmaas said many are surprised that it continues to be harder to find qualified candidates.

“Companies are being a lot more selective. They have a hard time finding someone with all the qualifications they’re looking for,” Westmaas said.

She said it’s particularly difficult to find good candidates in accounting and finance. The problem of finding good candidates is exacerbated by the “purple squirrel” phenomenon where employers are looking for a lot of skills in one candidate.

“A job that used to be done by two different people with different sets of skills is now going to be requested by one person,” Westmaas said. “Across the board titles have changed and responsibilities have changed.”

Slager said currently job candidates in the skilled trades are very hard to find for positions like a tig welder or a CNC operator who can set up, maintain and program machines. As manufacturing becomes more automated, highly skilled workers are needed who can do a job that four people used to do.

Lancaster agreed that skilled trades positions are the hardest to fill. He attributes the lack of candidates for the skilled trades to students being pushed toward four-year degrees.

“With some good trade school training, they could find their sweet spot and have some great employment opportunities,” Lancaster told MiBiz.

Westmaas said employers need to be practical and look for candidates with eight out of the 10 skills requested.

Temporary staffing offers a solution to employees and employers. Employees can showcase their skills and see if their personality meshes with a particular company. Employment agencies have already done the background and skills checks and checked references.

“Employers look at it as an opportunity to try before they buy,” Westmaas said.

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• becky slager
• employmentgroup
• human resources
• manpower
• mark lancaster
• rebecca westmaas
• robert half
• west michigan