MarketWatch (05/16/12)

The pace of job creation may pick up over the summer months, fueled by an expected increase in seasonal hiring. Three in 10 (29%) U.S. employers plan to hire workers for the summer, up from 21% in 2011 and an average of 22% over the past four years, according to ASA corporate partner CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast. Stronger-than-expected growth in the manufacturing sector, as well as increased consumer confidence heading into vacation season, are likely behind the busier summer hiring season. Approximately 45% of employers in the manufacturing industry plan to add summer workers, followed by hospitality (44%), retail (34%), and finance (31%).

“Confidence is up among the employers we most closely associate with summer hiring. This is good news for job seekers, as seasonal work can often lead to full-time opportunities. A majority of employers told us they consider a summer position an extended job interview,” says Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America. “The forecast is also a strong indicator that the job market will continue to strengthen as we come closer to the second half of 2012.”