Survey finds more employers are considering taking on staff.

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The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey suggests an improvement in the labour market over the next few months as more employers look to hire.

The survey of 720 New Zealand employers shows hiring intentions for the next three months are still in negative territory, with the net employment outlook at -1%.

However, there are positive signs: the proportion of employers planning to increase hiring has increased to 14% from 12% in the last quarter and the number planning to decrease hiring has dropped from 18% to 13%.

A new survey by employment services provider Manpower has shown a significant drop in hiring intentions among New Zealand companies.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey asked 868 employers throughout New Zealand about their hiring intentions for the second quarter of 2009, and found only 13% of employers are forecasting an increase in headcount during that period.

In contrast, 22% predict a reduction in staff numbers, leaving the Net Employment Outlook at -10% seasonally adjusted.

The current outlook is the worst since the survey began in the second quarter of 2004.