Semper Finds Mixed Indicators in Its Latest Industry Insight Survey

• About 80% of the companies interviewed expected even or increased sales during Q1, 2011.

• The vast majority of respondents indicated that hiring levels remained the same, although there was a slight increase in companies hiring—and a noticeable trend that they were releasing less employees.

• More than two-thirds of companies reported that healthcare is the labor cost component that increased the fastest last quarter—nearly five times greater than those reporting base pay, the next component.