Employers worldwide report cautiously optimistic hiring plans for the first quarter of 2017, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released by ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE: MAN).

Employers expect staffing levels to increase in 23 of 25 countries in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region in the next quarter. The strongest EMEA outlooks are forecast in Hungary and Slovenia, with employers reporting their most optimistic hiring plans since their respective surveys launched. The weakest outlooks were found in Switzerland, where the forecast is negative, and Italy, where the hiring pace is expected to be weak.

“Following a period of political uncertainty in many parts of the world we are now seeing signs of stability from employers globally, including in the UK and US,” said ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jonas Prising. “The results tell us it is very much business as usual. Leaders are focusing on clear, constructive hiring plans and decisive action.”

The top 10 net employment outlooks worldwide are:

1. Taiwan: 25%
2. India: 24%
3. Japan: 23%
4. Hungary: 17%
5. Slovenia: 17%
6. Guatemala: 16%
7. United States: 16%
8. New Zealand: 15%
9. Romania: 15%
10. Mexico: 14%

In the UK, ManpowerGroup’s survey found 9% of employers plan to increase staff in the first quarter, up from 8% in forecasts for both the prior quarter and the first quarter of 2016; 3% plan to decrease staff; 87% expect no change in staff; and 1% are undecided about their hiring intentions. This results in a net employment outlook of 7% when seasonally adjusted, up two points on the previous quarter and the highest level of optimism in three years.

“UK companies are going into 2017 hungry for top talent. Employers are still unsure about what exactly Brexit will mean, but are not letting that uncertainty deter them from hiring,” said Mark Cahill, ManpowerGroup UK managing director. “In fact, some employers may be looking to bring in talent while they can before any curbs to freedom of movement across the European Union come into effect, as more than half of all the jobs created by UK employers this year went to EU workers.”

ManpowerGroup’s employment outlook survey includes responses from almost 59,000 employers globally, including 2,104 employers in the UK.