MILWAUKEE, March 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, tells U.S. workers to carefully examine how to apply their core skills to growing industries and to develop new skills that can be applied across industries and different functions, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today reported that the overall February jobless rate was 7.7%, down from 7.9% in January.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110330/CG73938LOGO-a)

A substantial 236,000 jobs were added in February across industries. Professional and business services added the most jobs at 73,000; construction increased by 48,000; while health care added 32,000. Information and retail trade also added significant number of workers.

January's job figures were revised down from 157,000 to 119,000, while December's jobs figure was revised up for the second time. It now stands at 219,000.

"To experience more 2013 job growth spikes, across industries, particularly in the wake of federal job losses, the U.S. job market must reinforce its educational infrastructure," said Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO. "With budget cuts to education, companies are under increasing pressure to invest in modernizing school curriculums and preparing today's workers and students for fast-growing industries. Employers have always been the most knowledgeable sources of what skills will accelerate industry growth. Yet, the responsibility they now bear, to invest in skills-training the American workforce, is inescapable."

Today's jobs report also cited the millions of U.S. workers who have been unemployed for years. This talent is often concentrated in regions where a dominant industry or employer has not been able to hire locally due, in part, to a shortage of the right skills.

"To build a long-term career across many industries, individuals at all career stages must first examine which industries are growing and then seek the skills and career development expertise that will open doors for them across these industries," said ManpowerGroup President Jonas Prising. "Essential career planning resources are found in ManpowerGroup's widespread presence in U.S. communities. The ManpowerGroup network is critical for acquiring the insight into the top skills demanded by today's growing employers."

ManpowerGroup's forward-looking Employment Outlook Survey, gauging hiring intentions among employers in 42 countries and territories for the second quarter of 2013, is released next Tuesday. Full survey results will appear here: http://www.manpowergroup.com/press/meos_landing.cfm

About ManpowerGroup

ManpowerGroup™ (NYSE: MAN), the world leader in innovative workforce solutions, creates and delivers high-impact solutions that enable our clients to achieve their business goals and enhance their competitiveness. With over 60 years of experience, our $21 billion company creates unique time to value through a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions that help clients win in the Human Age. These solutions cover an entire range of talent-driven needs from recruitment and assessment, training and development, and career management, to outsourcing and workforce consulting. ManpowerGroup maintains the world's largest and industry-leading network of 3,500 offices in 80 countries and territories, generating a dynamic mix of an unmatched global footprint with valuable insight and local expertise to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, across all industry sectors, small and medium-sized enterprises, local, multinational and global companies. By connecting our deep understanding of human potential to the ambitions of clients, ManpowerGroup helps the organizations and individuals we serve achieve more than they imagined – because their success leads to our success. And by creating these powerful connections, we create power that drives organizations forward, accelerates personal success and builds more sustainable communities. We help power the world of work. The ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through ManpowerGroup™ Solutions, Manpower®, Experis™ and Right Management®. Learn more about how ManpowerGroup can help you win in the Human Age at www.manpowergroup.com.

ManpowerGroup is the only company in our industry to be named to the Ethisphere Institute's World's Most Ethical Companies list for three consecutive years, in recognition of its proven commitment to ethical business practices, including an outstanding commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility.

In January 2011, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, ManpowerGroup announced the world has entered the Human Age, where talent has replaced capital as the key competitive differentiator. This concept of talentism as the new capitalism continues to resonate, and was echoed as a core theme of the 2012 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Learn more about this new age at www.manpowergroup.com/humanage

Gain access to ManpowerGroup's extensive thought leadership papers, annual Talent Shortage surveys and the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, one of the most trusted indices of employment activity in the world, via the ManpowerGroup World of Work Insight iPad application. This thought leadership app explores the challenges faced by employers navigating the changing world of work and provides in-depth commentary, analysis, insight and advice on strategies for success. 

Follow ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jeff Joerres on Twitter: twitter.com/manpowergroupjj. Joerres is one of only 20 Fortune 500 CEOs who leverages a Twitter account to get his message out.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup