Hiring remains bright

The employment outlook for the Gulf Coast and the state remains bright despite concerns about the slowing global economy, according to a survey of second-quarter hiring by labor firm Manpower.

The employment outlook is the best in the Lakeland-Winter Haven area, with 27% of employers planning to hire more people from April through June. (Data for the Sarasota-Bradenton and Naples-Marco Island areas were not available.)

On a statewide basis, hiring plans are uniformly positive across all 13 industry sectors that Manpower tracks. That includes construction, manufacturing, retail trade, professional services, health care, leisure and government.