Hiring confidence amongst UK employers is at its highest level for three years, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Across the UK, eight of the nine industry sectors surveyed were planning to take on staff next quarter.

Employers in transport and communications, finance and business services and manufacturing, all reported figures above the national average. Agriculture was the only sector to expect cutbacks.

According to Manpower, the UK is also posting the most positive outlook of any of the European countries. Employers in all twelve of the regions surveyed intend to take on more staff in the quarter ahead.

Employers in the South West were the most optimistic with 32% of employers looking to expand their workforce. Conversely, employers in the West Midlands, London and Scotland were the least optimistic.

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey asked over 35,000 public and private sector employers in 19 countries to forecast hiring patterns for the period October to December 2004.