The ifo Employment Barometer edged downwards from 112.3 points in September to 112.0 points in October. The slight decline is exclusively due to service providers. Companies generally remain very willing to recruit additional staff.
The barometer rose in nearly all branches, apart from the service sector. As in previous months, it is mainly electrical goods manufacturers and mechanical engineering firms that are driving recruitment. Wholesalers and retailers are planning to hire additional staff. Contractors are slowly reaching their limits as far as the increase in employment is concerned. Almost every one in five contractors is now reporting problems in filling vacant positions. Service providers also continue to recruit new staff, but on a slightly smaller scale than previously. The pace of the increase in employment slowed down.