UK employers will continue hiring at a steady rate throughout summer, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.
The report indicates a positive balance of 13%, meaning more companies are expecting to boost their workforce between July and September than reduce it.

It found 18% of companies expect their workforce to increase in the period, while 5% expect their headcount to fall. The +13% reading is unchanged from the previous quarter, and 1% above the same point last year.

Mark Cahill, managing director at Manpower UK, said: “It is encouraging the increase in hiring confidence is gradual, not dramatic: in the past, sudden jumps in hiring confidence have led to cut-backs immediately afterwards,” he added.

The survey found the revival in manufacturing hiring intentions is continuing, with a balance of +14% of employers expecting to take on more staff, the most positive result for the industry sector since the last quarter of 2004.

Employers in the community and social sector reported their most optimistic third-quarter results since 2001 and retailers were increasingly positive about their hiring plans, with a balance of +9% of employers expecting to increase their headcount.

Hiring confidence in the finance and business services sector, last quarter’s most positive industry, has eased. Its outlook stands at +9%, down on the +20% reported last quarter, and the least positive third-quarter figures recorded in three years.

Employers in Scotland are the most optimistic, with a balance of +27% expecting to increase their headcount.
Hiring confidence in the north-east is also strong, and East Anglia, Wales, the south-east and London also report figures above or at the national average. Employers in Northern Ireland and Yorkshire and Humberside are the least positive.