Hiring intentions among US companies for the coming quarter are the highest in eight years, according to global recruiter ManpowerGroup.

Although the global outlook is uneven, the firm’s latest employment outlook survey shows US firms are the most upbeat since the final quarter of 2007, with 21% of the 11,000 employers surveyed saying they anticipated increasing staffing levels. 

However, 6% said they expected workforce reductions. 

Employers in Romania also anticipate strong hiring, while the weakest – with negative hiring intentions – are in Brazil, Italy, France, Greece and Finland. 

Chinese employers, while still positive in their hiring intentions, expect to add staff at the slowest rate in more than six years.

Manpower surveyed nearly 59,000 employers in 42 countries and territories across the globe.

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