Manpower Group has released its Q3 2016 Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which interviewed nearly 59,000 employees in 43 countries. The outlook shows that most employers across the globe plan to increase hiring over the next three months, though at a slower pace than recent quarters.

The research showed that 40 of 43 countries show positive hiring intentions, with India, Japan, Taiwan, Guatemala, Romania and the United States leading the way.

Compared to Q2 2016, hiring prospects strengthened in 14 of 42 countries and territories, are unchanged in 7 and declined in 21.

Compared with last year at this time, outlooks improved in 13 countries and territories, weakened in 24 and are unchanged in 5.

"Stronger employer hiring intentions in most regions is certainly cause for optimism, though global growth is still below pre­recession levels,” Jonas Prising, Chairman & CEO of ManpowerGroup, said. "The political uncertainty in Europe and the United States means employers are hesitant to significantly add to their workforce, but they do continue to hire at modest levels, and many are still experiencing difficulty finding in­-demand skills. Meanwhile, the economic slowdown in China still casts a shadow over its trading partners and an otherwise mostly stable economic situation.”

In the EMEA region, Romanian employers reported the region’s strongest third ­quarter hiring plans, while the weakest outlooks are reported in Italy and Switzerland. For the first time in eight years, there are no negative national forecasts reported among countries in the EMEA region. The third­ quarter survey also includes Portugal for the first time, with cautiously optimistic hiring forecasted in the next three months.

In the UK, the survey showed that British employers increased staffing in the last three months, albeit at a slower pace for a second quarter running. The slowdown is linked to uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum on 23 June.

"Leaving the EU will make it much more difficult to attract the brightest and best," James Hick, managing director of ManpowerGroup Solutions, said. "It will mean more bureaucracy for those coming to Britain and salaries could be less competitive, especially if sterling falls, as many warn it could - including the Bank of England."

In Asia Pacific, job gains are expected in all eight countries and territories surveyed. ​For the fourth consecutive quarter, employers in India report the most optimistic regional and global hiring plans, while employers in China report the region’s weakest forecast.

For the Americas, employers in Guatemala and the United States report the region’s most optimistic third ­quarter hiring plans. The only negative forecast for the region (and of all countries included in the survey) is reported by employers in Brazil.

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