Slow growing

A survey of 44 Spokane-area companies shows most are predicting modest or no job growth in the coming year. The survey is the second done by Spokane-based Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest. It asks employers to predict job changes next year, ranging from “significant growth” to “scheduled job cuts.”

Last year the same survey drew responses from more than 90 firms. Associated Industries Vice President Bill Sweigert said the economy is even affecting responses. “A lot of companies simply told us to put them down for the same (answers) as last year,” he said.

The two largest industry categories responding were manufacturing and “other” – which covers nonprofits, hotels, high-tech, schools and government. Eighteen manufacturing firms and 11 in the other group responded.

The results agree with other surveys done for the region and the country, Sweigert said. The key points:

• 24 respondents indicated they’ll make no job cuts or additions in 2011.

• 14 said they’d “modestly” add jobs or increase hours. Of those, nine were in manufacturing.

• Three companies in the “other” category have plans to cut jobs and most of those cuts would be in firms with more than 200 workers.

• None of the 44 firms said it will increase hours or jobs “significantly” in the coming year.

• Half of the 18 manufacturing firms predicted they would make modest increases in hours or total jobs in the coming year.

For additional information on the survey, go to http://www.aiin.com/ workforcesolutions/.