U.S. employers plan to keep staffing levels relatively stagnant during the fourth quarter of 2009, finds the seasonally adjusted results of the latest Manpower Inc. Employment Outlook Survey.

“The hiring intentions of U.S. companies continue to be sluggish,” says Manpower Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres. “While there are areas within the U.S. which are showing an uptick, we have yet to see the robust hiring intentions that would indicate a full labor market recovery.”

More than two-thirds (69%) of the 28,000 employers surveyed expect no change in their October through December hiring plans. A mere 12% anticipate an increase in staff, while 14% expect a decrease in payrolls, resulting in a Net Employment Outlook of minus 2%. Most troubling is that after seasonal adjustment, the Net Employment Outlook becomes minus 3%, the weakest since the survey began in 1962. The remaining 5% of employers indicated that they were undecided about their hiring intentions.

“Despite some moderating signs, such as the considerable number of employers that plan to maintain or increase staff levels, there will continue to be challenges for both job seekers and employers in the coming months,” postulates Jonas Prising, Manpower president of the Americas. “Hiring in the Wholesale & Retail Trade sector, for instance, is expected to be down in the fourth quarter, suggesting that employers will not be adding the quantity of holiday hires they have in the past.”

Employers in the Mining, Information, Financial Activities and Other Services industry sectors expect hiring to remain relatively stable in Q4, as compared to Q3, the survey uncovered. Employers in the Durable and Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Government sectors anticipate a slight decrease in hiring levels. Transportation & Utilities and Professional & Business Services employers predict a moderate decrease, while those in the Construction and Leisure & Hospitality sectors indicate considerably weaker hiring plans when compared to last quarter. Finally, Education & Health Services employers anticipate a modest increase in hiring activity for Q4.

Geographically speaking, Northeast companies have the weakest outlook, the West and Midwest are relatively even-keeled, and the South shows a slight increase in employer optimism.