Some 41 percent of U.S. manufacturing executives expect employment to increase, up from 28 percent in October, according to the latest KPMG Global Business Outlook survey.
Service industry executives, however, are somewhat less optimistic, with only 28 percent seeing an increase, compared with 25 percent from the October results. Sentiment among manufacturing executives in the KPMG survey also rebounded, with 68 percent expecting improved business activity, compared with 57 percent in October, though slightly below the 73 percent of respondents in June.
Some 66 percent of U.S. service-industry respondents say they expect to see improved business activity over the next 12 months, up significantly from 52 percent in October and ahead of the 65 percent of those surveyed last June.
