The UK has been identified as a growth area in the latest quarterly survey by US recruitment giant Manpower.

Spain, Norway, Sweden, Ireland and the UK are the strongest European markets. Spanish, Swiss and Dutch employers are reporting their strongest hiring intentions since the survey began in these countries.

“Despite the high fuel prices and other challenges, the global labour market looks set to improve in most of Europe and Asia in the second quarter,” said Jeffrey Joerres, chairman and chief executive of Manpower.

Of the 24 countries it surveyed, only Italy has a negative outlook.