International recruiter Manpower Inc has seen revenues decline for the last quarter of the year.

For the three months ended 31 December 2009, net earnings fell to $29.1m (£18.2m) from $76m a year earlier, while revenues dropped by 4% on the same period in 2008 to $4.4bn.

But there are grounds for optimism, according to Jeffrey A Joerres, Manpower Inc chairman and chief executive: “We continue to see solid evidence of improving trends in nearly all geographies we operate in. Each week that passes, we are more confident about the sustainability of the recovery. The US is experiencing the highest level of year-over-year growth trends.

“As we look to the first quarter of 2010, we are anticipating positive year-over-year revenue growth for the company as a whole, which is the first time since the third quarter of 2008.

“We are anticipating the first quarter of 2010 diluted earnings per share to be a loss in the range of 5 cents to 15 cents, which includes an estimated favorable currency impact of 3 cents.”