U.S. employers plan more hiring in the second quarter of this year than the same period last year, but hiring plans remain about even compared with the first quarter, according to the Manpower employment survey released today by Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN).

"U.S. hiring activity is still in neutral, but revving toward first gear," Jonas Prising, Manpower president of the Americas, said in a statement. "It's moving in the right direction, but it will take some time, with no major speed bumps, before it can accelerate."

Of U.S. employers surveyed, 16% planned to add staff in the second quarter, 8% planned a decrease, 73% planned no change and 3% were unsure about their plans for a net employment outlook of 8%.

The second quarter's net employment outlook fell to 5% after seasonal adjustment. That compares to a 6% seasonally adjusted net employment outlook in the first quarter and negative 2% net employment outlook for the second quarter of 2009.

The Manpower survey included 18,000 interviews with employers.

In Canada, the seasonally adjusted net employment outlook was 7% for the second quarter. That compares with 10% for the first quarter and 1% for the second quarter of 2009.

"This quarter’s net employment outlook indicates that the hopeful hiring climate reported in the previous quarter will continue to improve in the second quarter of 2010,� Byrne Luft, VP of Marketing for Manpower Canada, said in a statement.

The Canadian survey included more than 1,900 employers.