Transport employers are set to take on additional staff in the second quarter of the year, according to latest statistics from Manpower.

The Manpower Employer Outlook Survey, a quarterly study of hiring intentions of 2,100 UK employers, found that 14% of companies in the transport sector expect to take on more staff in the second quarter of 2006. This is higher than the first quarter when only 1% of companies said they expected to increase their head count, and higher than the second quarter in 2005 when 13% of companies said they would be taking on more staff.

Simon Edwards, head of Manpower’s Driving division, said: “The first few months of the year were heavily affected by increasing fuel charges and greater proactive planning bought about as a result of working time directive legislation (sometimes known as RTR).

“However we are hearing positive news from both clients and colleagues, and we are expecting hiring across the board as the industry benefits from the feel good factor of the World Cup.”