A modest increase in insurance recruitment is expected during the opening quarter, although most of the action is forecast elsewhere.

The latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey reveals 26% of Australian employers are looking to recruit new staff between now and March.

Some 7% of employers intend to reduce their headcount during the quarter resulting in a seasonally adjusted net employment outlook for Australia of 19%.

The finance, insurance and real estate category has the weakest outlook of seven groups surveyed, with a net employment outlook of 12%.

“Employers in this sector are still showing caution, with hiring intentions yet to surpass the figures posted at the same time last year,” the survey says.

Taken as part of the wider group, the net employment outlook for insurers was 15% at the same point last year.

The survey of 2000 local employers reflects Australia’s resilience to the global downturn, with only five of 35 countries polled showing more optimistic hiring intentions.

“Australia appears to have turned a corner, with hiring intentions closer to the pace we saw before the downturn hit,” Manpower Australia & New Zealand MD Lincoln Crawley said.

Employers in India (39%), Brazil (31%), and Singapore (26%) are likely to be the most active recruiters.