A survey has found that job prospects are improving in the city, especially in the construction industry, US-based employment firm Manpower Inc has reported. In its recent poll of 817 employers in six sectors, 17 percent of respondents expect to add employees over the next three months, while only two percent predict reducing staff levels.

This is two percentage points higher than the figures for the first quarter of 2010 and an 18 percent improvement from last year, according to Manpower's quarterly poll.

All six sectors polled are expected to show jumps in employment from a year earlier, thanks to economic growth, with the mining and construction sector posting a healthy outlook of +31 percent - the biggest growth since 2003.

"The construction sector is likely to further improve upon commencement of major infrastructure projects," said Lancy Chui, general manager of Manpower Hong Kong and Macao Operations.

Strong headcount growth is forecast for the services sector where the outlook is +18 percent, while in the finance, insurance and real estate sector, employers report a solid outlook of +14 percent.

Employers in the wholesale and retail trade sector also anticipate strong headcount growth, with a forecast of 13 percent increase, as retailers benefit from an influx of mainland shoppers. Chui said both bosses and job seekers should remain vigilant at all times, as the local labor market outlook is still subject to uncertainties.

Billy Mak, associate professor of Finance and Decision Sciences at Hong Kong Baptist University, believes the survey reflects the general economic situation. With a better economic performance and a gradual decrease in the unemployment rate, major sectors are expected to hire more staff in the months ahead. "The construction sector was hard hit by the financial tsunami. The government has commenced several large-scale infrastructure projects and undoubtedly we can see a sharp improvement in the construction industry," Mak said.

(HK Edition 03/10/2010 page2)