Hong Kong employers are expressing optimism about the hiring intention in the second quarter of 2008.

According to the employment outlook survey conducted by recruitment consultant Manpower, employers report an increase in hiring, with a three percentage point improvement from the first quarter of 2008 and a six percentage point improvement comparing to the second quarter of last year.

It is reported that the services industry reports the most confident hiring intentions, up 36%. Employers in this industry report a five percentage point increase from the first quarter of 2008. Hiring expectations are lowest for employers in mining and construction, yet compared to first quarter of 2008, a two percentage point increase is recorded.

The survey reveals that 33% of Hong Kong employers expect to increase staffing levels over the next three months, while only 3% expect a drop in their workforces. The majority of employers (63%) expect no change to their headcount.

Lancy Chui, General Manager of Manpower, comments that the overall Hong Kong labour market is robust due to a booming economy. “Much of the Services sector’s strength may be attributed to domestic demand as well as an increase in retail sales driven by the influx of tourists from Mainland China who are attracted by the weakness of the Hong Kong dollar.”

This survey covers 32 countries, interviewing 802 employers in Hong Kong and more than 55,000 employers worldwide.