HIRING OUTLOOK IS ROBUST L.A. NUMBERS MAY BE STRONGER THAN STATE'S.

Byline: Brent Hopkins Staff Writer

A bigger percentage of businesses in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley plan to hire workers than in the rest of the state, according to a survey released Monday.

Though unemployment remains at what analysts say is a relatively high 6.1 percent in Los Angeles County, the quarterly Manpower Employment Outlook Survey found that 45 percent of Los Angeles companies expect greater hiring activity in the April-June period, while only 5 percent expect less, one of the state's best gains. For the remainder, 38 percent reported no change, with 12 percent unsure of their hiring plans.

In the Valley, 42 percent expect more hires, while 12 percent expect fewer, with 38 percent unchanged and 8 percent unsure. The Westside reported only 20 percent expecting more and 28 percent expecting less, with 35 percent percent unchanged and 17 percent unsure.

All in all, the report spelled positive news for the region, though Sue Foigelman, Manpower's area manager, said there was room for improvement.

``We're not seeing huge increases like the late '90s,'' she said. ``We're not out of the woods yet, but it's still very encouraging to see this optimism.''

The 40 percent net increase for Los Angeles' businesses far outpaced California's, which has 23 percent of companies expecting a hiring increase. Nationally, 22 percent of businesses expect to increase hiring during the quarter.

Locally, Manpower projects the biggest gains in construction. Several large projects, including new rides at Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, as well as Kaiser Permanente's new Panorama City hospital and the San Fernando Valley bus line, should bring jobs.

Additionally, the survey expects jobs to come from the manufacturing and transportation and public utilities sectors. Any increase in the much- battered manufacturing sector would be a good sign, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

``They've been under a lot of pressure with job losses, but, with the decline in the dollar, they're stepping up exports,'' he said. ``If there's more hiring, that would be extremely good news. The wage rates are good, the benefits are good - these are very important jobs.''

Rosemarie Wolff, president of Royal Staffing Services, a temporary-employment company with offices in Sherman Oaks and Westlake Village, has seen more hopeful sentiment among her clients. With more inquiries in health care, from hospital work to billing and data entry, she's had to take on a few new employees herself to handle the increased demand for temp work. Though she shares the optimism found in the Manpower survey, she's also mindful that the tumultuousness of the geopolitical climate could quash any hiring booms.

``I've been through six recessions and run this company for 37 years,'' she said. ``We hope this (optimism) isn't temporary, but a lot depends on the world situation and the coming election.''

Brent Hopkins, [phone]

brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com