Jobseekers in the insurance sector will benefit from the strongest hiring climate in three years as employers strengthen their staffing plans in the fourth quarter, a Manpower survey shows.

A net 19% of employers in the sector expect to step up hiring in the fourth quarter, the highest rate since the corresponding quarter of 2011, according to the recruiter’s Australia and New Zealand MD Lincoln Crawley.

“Hiring intentions improve by 6 percentage points when compared with the previous quarter and are 10 percentage points stronger year over year,” the Manpower report says.

Finance, insurance and real estate is the most optimistic of seven industry sectors surveyed.

More than 2200 employers were questioned. Overall, 19% expect to increase staffing levels, 9% forecast a decrease and 70% anticipate no change.

This is the strongest result since the third quarter of 2012.

Overall hiring prospects are steady compared with the previous quarter and up seven percentage points on the corresponding period last year.

“The results show employers are still being conservative about hiring plans for the fourth quarter, but there are some encouraging signs from various sectors,” Mr Crawley said.