There is still optimism on the part of some metro Atlanta companies.
As its business recovers and more clients sign on, Manhattan Associates -- an Atlanta supply chain company -- has added 200 jobs in Atlanta and is hiring 100 more people here. NexTraq, a company that does GPS fleet tracking, is adding 20 more Atlanta employees.
In the case of Manhattan Associates, the demand for the company's services has outpaced its ability to provide them, said Terry Tillman, senior vice president of equity research for software at Raymond James.
"They're in catch-up mode," Tillman said. "If it relates to supply chain, logistics, those are things that people are still trying to get ahold of and manage their costs."
Manhattan Associates, which employs about 2,000 people worldwide, had laid off about 300 people through the recession. The new jobs -- mostly for electrical engineers, computer scientists and those with logistics expertise -- will put the company back to its 2007 staffing levels, President and CEO Pete Sinisgalli said.
"We're recruiting aggressively," he said. "We're quite optimistic about the long-term health and direction of the markets we serve."
In addition to the 100 new jobs in Atlanta, Manhattan Associates will be adding jobs in other countries.
The company, whose customers include manufacturers, grocery stores and retailers, plans to continue growing, Sinisgalli said. He said the slower years have meant a backlog of companies that are ready to upgrade or implement software that helps them determine how to manage their shipments.
Tillman said that an increase in mobile and online shopping will mean increased business for Manhattan Associates, as delivery fulfillment becomes increasingly complex.
At NexTraq, CEO Mike Scarbrough said he would like to double the size of the company in the coming year. It has already expanded from 50 people to more than 80, and the additional jobs -- mostly for Web and marketing positions -- will bring NexTraq to more than 100 people.
"We're primarily about applying technology to solve real-world business problems," Scarbrough said. "Our success adds growth."
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