Confidence is growing in the UK economy, with most sectors set to increase
staff levels this quarter.
The Manpower quarterly survey of employment prospects reveals that most
employers are expecting to take on more staff in the second quarter.
The research, based on responses from 2,000 businesses, measures the number
of employers intending to recruit against those planning to shed staff.
Every sector, apart from electronics, anticipates a rise in staffing, with
hotels and restaurants the most buoyant. In this sector, the index shows a net
balance of 31 per cent of employers are planning to hire new staff over the
next three months.
Recruiting expectations are up on last quarter in all regions, with four
regions – Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and Humberside and the North – more
confident than this time last year.
Ian Herbertson, managing director of Manpower, said: "Business seems to
have bounced back from last quarter’s downturn, when the US recession and 11
September hit employment prospects hard. There is reason to be cautiously
optimistic, but for a full recovery we need to see this maintained.
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"In the current climate, flexible staff solutions will continue to be
an important tool for business," he said.
