The insurance, finance and real estate sector has the joint second-best job prospects alongside mining and construction this quarter, according to recruitment group Manpower.

The sector has a net employment outlook of +21%, the strongest in six years.

The figure is up 12 percentage points on the preceding quarter and 11 points on the corresponding period last year.

“Our data is suggesting the industry is preparing for significant changes, both in response to the royal commission and advancing technologies,” a Manpower spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“This preparation may require an increase in headcount to manage new compliance obligations and remain competitive in a sector that is rapidly changing due to digital transformation.”

The fourth-quarter report is based on a representative survey of 1515 employers. The transport and utilities sector has the strongest net outlook at +23%.

The national net employment outlook has improved to +15% from +8% in the preceding quarter.