NORTH West employers reported downbeat hiring intentions for the fourth quarter, recruitment firm Manpower claims today.

A -3% net employment outlook – subtracting firms planning to reduce staff from those planning to hire – means limited jobs growth is expected across the region between January and March next year.

Although slightly weaker than the national average of 0%, it is, however, five percentage points better on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

And the Manpower report says the outlook for the upcoming quarter represents the region’s first rise in hiring confidence in a year and marks a positive step in the right direction.

Greg Hollis, Manpower operations manager, said: “The uplift in confidence since last quarter is an encouraging sign.”

Looking at other regions, the South West reports the most positive hiring intentions at +8%, with regeneration in and around Bristol, with the region’s increasing appeal to both the business community and visitors fuelling economic recovery. Employers in Wales are the least optimistic, at -11%.