A survey by Manpower Inc. of 16,000 American businesses shows that 16 percent plan to add jobs and 16 percent will reduce jobs. This compares with last year's 27 percent adding and 10 percent reducing. The figures from the survey are similar to those found in the recessions of 1982 and 1991.
See "Hiring prospects are flat, survey shows.", Associated Press, The Washington Post, November 18, 2001