The Phoenix-area employment picture for the fourth quarter of 2010 appears positive, as hiring is expected to increase slightly, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey released today.

Between October and December, 15 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees. For the same period, 9 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. About 74 percent say they will maintain current staffing levels and 2 percent are not certain of their hiring plans.

Figures for the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area point to a net employment outlook of 6 percent, according to the survey, making the Valley employment outlook a bit brighter compared to the rest of the nation and the rest of the state.

“Employers are more optimistic about hiring plans for the final three months of the year compared to (the third quarter) when the net employment outlook was 2 percent,” says Frank Amendariz Arizona regional director at Manpower. “Employers expect a much faster hiring pace compared with one year ago, when the net employment outlook was minus 4 percent.”

According to the survey, prospects in Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale are particularly strong in durable goods manufacturing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

Hiring figures for the rest of the state show a mild increase as well, according to the survey.  For the fourth quarter of the year, 14 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, and 10 percent expect to reduce their work force. Another 73 percent say they will maintain current staffing levels and 3 percent are uncertain of their hiring plans. The state’s net employment outlook is 4 percent.

“Employers expect to slightly slow down the hiring pace compared to (third quarter 2010) when the net employment outlook was 6 percent,” says Sunny Ackerman, a spokesperson for Manpower.

Nationally, of the more than 18,000 employers surveyed, 15 percent anticipate an increase in staffing, and 11 percent expect a decrease for a net employment outlook of 4 percent.