Public sector employers are positive in the run up to the New Year, according to Manpower.

Their Employment Outlook Survey surveyed 2,500 UK employers and asked them whether or not they intended to hire more staff.

The results showed that the balance of employers looking to recruit in the public sector is +17%, meaning 17% more firms intended to hire staff than fire them.

This was slightly below the overall national average of +18% but represented a quarter on quarter increase of four percentage points and a year on year increase of three percentage points.

Manpower group business manager Emma Barnes said: "Although Gordon Brown claimed this summer he could eliminate 100,000 civil service posts, the market continues to be buoyant."