With recent news that Dallas County’s unemployment is falling, a national staffing company says area workers will have more to be happy about.

According to Manpower, which publishes a quarterly report, 10 percent of Dallas County employers are expected to add employees from April to June.

Combined with the percent age expected to lay off workers and the 87 percent expected to remain the same a net of 7 percent will be hiring more through June.

According to Manpower Branch Manager Sherri Hardy, that figure represents a decent jump in the area’s employment figures.

“Seven is a good number,” Hardy said. “I don’t think we’ve had an increase that was that high in Selma recently.”

While the survey represented a jump for Selma, a press release called the number “moderate.” In fact, this time last year, the numbers were even better.

“Employers are less positive about hiring than they were a year ago,” Manpower spokesperson Helen Little said.

Manpower said 20 percent of the companies thought hiring would increase in the April to June quarter last year.

The Manpower survey, according to Hardy, doesn’t review actual employment figures.

Manpower samples companies nationwide, and puts together its information for the nation and individual areas.

Hardy said 45 companies were surveyed for Dallas County’s figures.

Each company is asked the same question: “How do you anticipate employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of June 2005 as compared to the current quarter?”

“We hit everything with that. That’s across the board,” Hardy said, referring to the types of companies surveyed, from retail to industrial.

The numbers are already adjusted for seasonal changes.

While the company reported that area employers weren’t as optimistic about hiring rates this year, the news is offset by the current unemployment figure in Dallas County, 9.8 percent. The unemployment rate is below 10 percent for the first time in decades.

During the third quarter of last year, the unemployment rate was well above 10 percent, sometimes getting as high as 13 percent.

Hardy said the survey is usually very accurate.

“It’s nationally recognized,” Hardy said.

According to the survey, the margin of error is +/-0.8 percent.

Hardy is optimistic about the potential increase.

She added that she believes the area is benefiting from new companies coming into town.

“I think you’ve got a lot of good things coming into the area. You’ve got an increase in jobs that area,” Hardy said. “You’ve got Hyundai suppliers and (possibly) Lockheed Martin.”