Public sector employers are keen to take on new staff in the run up to the new year, according to the recruitment giant Manpower.

The firm’s latest employment outlook survey questioned 2,500 UK employers and over 35,000 employers in 19 countries.

Results show that the balance of employers looking to recruit in the public sector is +17%.

This means that 26% are looking to take on staff, with 9% planning to reduce numbers.

This is an increase of 4% from the last quarter and a rise of 3% from last year.

Emma Barnes, Manpower group business manager, said: “Hiring is still taking place, although this is something of a mixed picture with many government departments only taking on temporary staff rather than permanent placements.”

Across the UK, eight of the nine industry sectors surveyed by Manpower are planning to take on staff in the next quarter, including manufacturing, transport and communications, and finance and business services.

Agriculture is the only sector to expect cutbacks with an outlook of -8%. This means 11% are looking to decrease staff, with only 3% looking to recruit.

This is a decline of 9% over the last quarter and a decrease of 4% from last year.