Jobless outlook cloudy, survey says

An extensive survey done by Manpower Inc., the world's largest temporary service firm, forecasts a murky outlook for the nation's unemployed. Of the 10,000 US employers in over 300 cities polled, 23 percent plan to hire additional workers during the next three months, while 12 percent expect staff reductions.

Regionally, the South reports the strongest hiring expectations; the West survey results are similarly optimistic. Midwestern employers predict hiring activity to remain sluggish and the Northeast continues its trend downward.