MILWAUKEE — Hiring will stay flat nationwide during the first three months of next year, nearing levels not seen since the last two recessions, according to a survey released today.

        Sixteen percent of the firms interviewed said they planned to add jobs during the first quarter of next year, while another 16 percent said they expected to cut staff during the same time, according to Manpower Inc.'s quarterly survey of 16,000 American businesses.

        That compares with 27 percent that planned to increase employment and 10 percent that antici pated cutbacks a year ago.

        The other firms said they would maintain staff levels or were uncertain about hiring activity.

        The figures continue a decline in hiring strength that began last spring. They approximate those of the recessionary years 1982 and 1991, when hiring levels reached historic lows in the survey's 25-year history, said Jeffrey Joerres, chief executive and chairman of Glendale-based Manpower, the nation's largest staffing company.

        “While we don't like the results, they're not coming as much of a surprise,” Mr. Joerres said. “We've been heading down for some period of time, and it will take some period of time to re verse this.”

        It's too early to say what effect the terrorist attacks have had on hiring, but Sept. 11 could have sped up a downward trend, Mr. Joerres said.

        A decline in hiring for manufacturing jobs will continue, as 21 percent of durable-goods manufacturers said they planned to cut jobs and 15 percent of other manufacturers expected cutbacks in the first quarter of next year, the survey found. Durable goods are costly manufactured items, such as farm equipment and industrial machinery, expected to last at least three years.

Holiday travel off despite bargains
Holiday travel tips
Gen-X hit hard by recession
Colleges see more enroll
Job discrimination focus of sessions
ECKBERG: Ad folks blow off steam
Few plan to add jobs in 1Q
Promotions & new on the job
The Success Coach
Morning Memo
Microsoft makes amends to Mac users with new Office
Phillips Petroleum buys Conoco